NEW YORK, NY—Joel L. Fleishman, professor of Law and Public Policy Studies and director of the Sam and Ronnie Heyman Center for Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions at Duke University will become chairman of the Markle board of directors effective March 4th, Zoë Baird, president of the Markle Foundation announced today. The announcement follows a unanimous vote of the Markle board that took place at a recent meeting in New York City. Mr. Fleishman replaces current Chairman Lewis W. Bernard, who will remain an active director.
From 1991–2001, Mr. Fleishman was president of The Atlantic Philanthropies, an organization that identifies and supports leaders, institutions, and organizations dedicated to learning, knowledge building, and solving pressing social problems. He continues to serve as a senior advisor to the organization. From 1971–1983, Mr. Fleishman was director of the Institute of Policy Sciences and Public Affairs at Duke, a post in which he served until 1982. He was co-director of the university’s Center for the Study of Communications and Journalism from 1985 until 1993.
“Joel is a scholar and a brilliant mind, who will bring great leadership to our board,” said Ms. Baird. “As a Markle board member for twenty-five years, he has the kind of institutional legacy that will make him a highly effective chairman.”
Lewis W. Bernard served as chairman of the board of the Markle Foundation during a period of great change. Under Zoë Baird’s leadership, the foundation refocused its mission to embrace and enable new opportunities represented by the digital revolution to meet larger societal needs and economic expectations.
“Lewis has been a tremendous support to me during my time at the Markle Foundation. I am extremely pleased he will remain an active board member,” said Ms. Baird.
“The Markle Foundation is among the most innovative of philanthropies, engaged in applying new technologies to areas of international affairs, global development, health care, child development, and information policy,” said Mr. Fleishman. “It is working across sectors, creating the kinds of collaborative partnerships necessary to bring about real, sustainable solutions. I’m excited to be leading the board at this important time.”
Mr. Fleishman has written and lectured extensively on ethics and public policy, and serves on numerous boards and committees. He received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he also earned an M.A. in drama and a J.D. He received his Master’s degree in law from Yale and serves as associate fellow of Ezra Stiles College at Yale.
In addition to Mr. Fleishman and Mr. Bernard, Markle’s board of directors include: Zoë Baird (president, Markle Foundation); Tom A. Bernstein (president, Chelsea Piers Management, Inc.); James I. Cash, Jr. (professor, Harvard University); Raymond C. Clevenger, III (judge of the United States Court of Appeals); Stephen W. Fillo (president, Fillo & Co., Inc.); Stephen Friedman (senior principal, Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Corp.); Randall Kennedy (professor, Harvard Law School); Ellen Condliffe Lagemann (president, Spencer Foundation); Diana T. Murray (president, Tisbury Partners); and Stanley S. Shuman (managing director & executive vice president, Allen & Company).
