Richard Ekman

Richard Ekman has a comprehensive work experience starting from their role as President at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1971. Richard then served as Deputy Director and Program Officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities before taking on the position of Vice President and Dean of the College at Hiram College. Richard then returned to the National Endowment for the Humanities as Director of the Division of Education Programs and later the Division of Research Programs. From 1991 to 1999, Ekman worked at The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as Secretary of the Foundation and Senior Program Officer. Richard then joined The Atlantic Philanthropies as Vice President for Programs before being appointed President of the Council of Independent Colleges, where they later became President Emeritus and Senior Advisor. In 2022, Ekman took on the role of President Emeritus for the Council of Independent Colleges.

Richard Ekman obtained their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History from Harvard University in 1966. Richard then went on to pursue higher education at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Richard completed their Master of Arts (MA) degree in History in 1967 and subsequently obtained their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in History of American Civilization in 1972.