People For the American Way and PFAW Foundation Seek President and CEO

People For the American Way, one of the nation’s leading progressive advocacy organizations, has launched a wide-ranging national search for a new president and CEO, who will also oversee the affiliated People For the American Way Foundation. The new People For president will lead staff members engaged in research, education, communications, advocacy, organizing, and action to counter the agenda and political power of the radical right, strengthen the progressive movement, and help build an America that more fully reflects the nation’s ideals. The new president will succeed one of the nation’s most accomplished progressive leaders, Ralph G. Neas, who has become president emeritus after eight years at the helm.

“This is an exciting time for the progressive movement and for People For the American Way,” said former PFAW President Carole Shields, a board member and co-chair of the search committee. “The Bush presidency has left the Constitution in tatters and the Supreme Court increasingly in the grip of far-right ideology. We are entering an election year with incredibly high stakes for the direction of our country. We have a 25-year track record of advocating for the Constitution and for America’s highest ideals. And in recent years we have launched successful and growing programs that are investing in the long-term health of the progressive movement and the country. We’re looking for a visionary leader to build on this proud history of advocacy and activism.”

The search will be carried out by a committee comprising board members from the two organizations, assisted by consultant William Keens of WolfBrown. A web page with information about the organizations, the position, and the search committee has been created through which people can nominate candidates. The search committee is co-chaired by Shields and longtime board member Michael Keegan. The committee’s goal is to have a new president in place in early 2008.