MacArthur ‘Genius’ Award Winner to Head Akonadi Fund; Hyams Foundation Hires New Leader

Akonadi Foundation

Lateefah Simon was named president of Akonadi Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for racial justice. She succeeds its founder, Quinn Delaney, who will serve as chair of the foundation’s board.

Ms. Simon will join Akonadi on August 22 from the Rosenberg Foundation, where she is program director. She manages the foundation’s grants that support improving the criminal-justice system, immigrant rights, low-wage workers’ rights, and civic engagement in California. Recently she helped launch the Leading Edge Fund, a fellowship program that seeks to advance the work of the next generation of progressive leaders.

In January, Ms. Simon was included on The Chronicle’s “40 Under 40” list of young movers and shakers in the nonprofit world. She has received several awards, including, in 2003, a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, commonly known as a “genius grant.”

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

David Davison, the retired chief executive of the American Savings Foundation, will be interim president.

Dallas Museum of Art

Agustín Arteaga, director of the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City, was appointed director.

Hyams Foundation

Jocelyn Sargent, research and evaluation program officer at the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas, was appointed executive director.

Other Notable Changes

Sang Hoon Lee, managing director of development at City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley, will be chief development officer at LIFT.

Two appointments at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation: Nicole Tzetzo, a partner at Bond Schoeneck & King, was named vice president for finance and administration; Lavea Brachman, executive director and co-founder of the Greater Ohio Policy Center in Columbus, Ohio, will be vice president for programs.

Departure

Josie Heath, president of the Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, plans to retire in December. Ms. Heath has led the organization for 21 years.

Legacies

Michael Elliott, former chief executive of ONE Campaign, died on July 14 from complications of bladder cancer. He was 65.

Gerry Pratt, one of the original trustees of the Meyer Memorial Trust, died on July 8. He was 88.

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