The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in Stanford, California, has announced that former board chair LILLIAN LOWERY passed away at age 67. An educator, consensus builder, and leader, Lowery was described as an unwavering advocate for students at the local, state, and federal levels. Among the first students to integrate North Carolina schools, she was inspired to teach by her 10th grade English teacher. As board chair, Lowery led the foundation’s efforts to identify and adopt new strategic priorities designed to address educational, racial, and economic justice. 

The Iowa West Foundation in Council Bluffs has announced MICHELLE WODTKE FRANKS as a new program officer. Franks brings more than 30 years of nonprofit and fund administration experience, most recently as the executive director of Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development. As a program officer, Franks will handle due diligence for grant applications and community initiatives and lead the management of a multiyear funding portfolio. 

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation in Oakland, California, has announced the addition of DR. JANELLE AYRES to its scientific advisory board and the selection of DR. BANA JABRI as the advisory board’s co-chair. DR. MICHAEL FISCHBACH, a longtime advisory board member, is stepping down. 

The Meyer Memorial Trust in Portland, Oregon, has named TOYA FICK as CEO. The trust’s fourth CEO in its four-decade history, Fick has served on its board of trustees since 2016 and was chair during Oregon’s historic wildfires, the nation’s racial-justice reckoning, and the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In close collaboration with the trust’s executive team, Fick oversaw the launch of Justice Oregon for Black Lives, a five-year, $25 million initiative—the largest in the foundation’s history. 

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in Princeton, New Jersey, has announced the appointment of AMY F. DINOFRIO as vice president and chief human resources officer, effective May 2. Dinofrio joins the foundation with more than a decade of executive-level human resources and talent management experience, most recently as the chief people and culture officer at United Way Worldwide.  

The Weingart Foundation in Los Angeles has announced three additions to its board of directors: KATIE NGUYEN KALVODA, founder and CEO of G3 Ventures; MICHAEL TUBBS, founder of EPIC and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and a former mayor of Stockton; and JACQUELINE WAGGONER, president, solutions division, Enterprise Community Partners. 

The Special Education Foundation in St. Louis has announced TIM EBY as its new executive director. Eby brings experience working in public media and the nonprofit sector, including serving for nearly 12 years as director and general manager of St. Louis Public Radio, where he increased the station’s annual budget from $4 million to $8.5 million while also doubling its staffing and service to the St. Louis region. In his new role, Eby will oversee the foundation’s careers initiative, which will provide career placement and meaningful employment opportunities for area students with leading local companies. 

USA Swimming, the national governing body of swimming in the United States, has announced LUCINDA McROBERTS as executive director of its philanthropic arm, USA Swimming Foundation. She will manage the growing foundation staff and work in conjunction with the USA Swimming Foundation board of directors and a trustee council to advance the foundation’s mission as they march toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.