MacArthur Foundation Appoints Prep School Leader as CEO (Transitions)

Dave White

MacArthur Foundation Appoints Prep School Leader as CEO

John Palfrey, who has led Phillips Academy Andover for the past seven years, will become president of the $7 billion grant maker on September 1. He also serves as chairman of the board at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Palfrey is an expert in the use of technology and has written extensively on online access and digital transparency.

Palfrey succeeds Julia Stasch, who announced last year that she would be leaving after five years in the top role and 13 years on staff.

Southern Poverty Law Center Faces Leadership Departures

The Southern Poverty Law Center dismissed its co-founder, Morris Dees. Less than two weeks after the Dees departure was announced, Richard Cohen, the nonprofit’s president, stepped down, saying it was time for a new generation to lead and that he took responsibility for what went wrong on his watch. Rhonda Brownstein, the organization’s legal director, also left.

The organization did not say exactly what had happened, but news reports said staff members had complained about harassment and unfair treatment. The nonprofit has hired Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, Tina Tchen, to investigate.

Girls Inc. Names a New CEO

Stephanie Hull will become chief executive of Girls Inc. on May 15.

Girls Inc.

Most recently, she worked at the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation as executive vice president and chief operating officer, where she had been since 2012.

Hull succeeds current leader Judy Vredenburgh, who announced last summer that she would retire in the spring.

Caterpillar Foundation to Be Led by Former GE Fund Executive

Asha Varghese has joined the Caterpillar Foundation as its president. She was most recently director of global portfolio at the GE Foundation.

The Caterpillar Foundation has given $715 million to alleviate global poverty since the company created its philanthropic arm in 1952.

Camp Fire Taps Youth Leader as Its Top Official

Greg Zweber, chief affiliate officer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, will become chief executive of the organization at the end of this month.

He succeeds Cathy Tisdale, who is retiring after nine years. The organization, which runs youth-development programs and summer camps nationwide, is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo.

Hadassah Foundation Appoints Grant Maker as Its Next Leader

Stephanie Blumenkranz is the new director of the Hadassah Foundation, which makes grants for the health and well-being of Jewish girls and women in the United States and Israel. Most recently she was associate director at the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York.