board members
danai gurira
Zimbabwean-American actor, playwright, and advocate, Danai Gurira is the author of acclaimed plays Eclipsed, The Convert, and Familiar, and is known for her roles in The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Black Panther films. A U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador, she is a global voice for storytelling and women's and girls' advocacy.
Christina R. Cutlip, PhD, CEBS
Christina Cutlip is the retired Senior Managing Director of TIAA’s Institutional Financial Services division, where she led national partnerships and advocacy across the higher-education sector. She brings decades of experience in strategic leadership, governance, and stakeholder engagement, and holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership.
Oskar Eustis
Oskar Eustis has been Artistic Director of The Public Theater since 2005, where he commissioned and developed landmark works including Hamilton, Fun Home, and Sweat. His career spans leadership roles at Trinity Repertory Company, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Eureka Theatre, with a focus on new-work development and public-engaged theater.
Chris Bradford
Chris Bradford is President of the Morehead-Cain Foundation and co-founder of African Leadership Academy. A social entrepreneur and education leader, he has a background in strategy, philanthropy, and institution-building, with earlier roles at Procter & Gamble, Boston Consulting Group, and The Broad Foundation.
Matthew Tierney
Matthew Tierney is a co-founder and managing partner at Development Capital, with over 20 years of experience in private equity, venture capital, and emerging markets investment. He co-founded Aperture Venture Partners and has served on multiple boards, while also co-founding the Future Fund for Education to support education entrepreneurs in Africa.
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya
Tafadzwa Pasipanodya is a Partner at Foley Hoag and Chair of the Africa Practice, representing sovereign states in high-stakes disputes involving natural resources, infrastructure, and environmental policy. She is recognized for her expertise in public international law, negotiation, and cross-border strategy.
Gale Anne Hurd
Gale Anne Hurd is an award-winning film and television producer and founder of Valhalla Entertainment. She is known for genre-defining works, including The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2, and AMC’s The Walking Dead, and has decades of experience in global media production and franchise building.
Mara Isaacs
Mara Isaacs is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning producer and founder of Octopus Theatricals. She is known for producing Hadestown and a wide range of innovative, cross-disciplinary projects worldwide. Her career spans decades in creative producing, international touring, and artist development.
Mandy Hackett
Mandy Hackett, Associate Artistic Director of The Public Theater, has overseen the development and production of numerous award-winning works, including Latin History for Morons, Fat Ham, and Girl From the North Country. She has extensive experience in creative producing and artistic leadership.
