Laurie Zierer

Executive Director @Pa Humanities

Responsible for managing a $3.5 million dynamic private non-profit that serves as the federal-state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Over 30-year track record of increasing responsibility as Interim and Assistant Director (20••••12), Senior Program Officer and Program Officer (19••••98).•Strategically positioned PA Humanities as a state and national leader and sharpened its focus on areas of need where the humanities - and our shared humanity - can illuminate possibilities for Pennsylvanians to improve wellbeing, connect, and make positive change. •With community partners in Chester, PA, launched nationally-recognized Chester Made, a humanities-based initiative to promote arts and culture and to harness their power as a force for community revitalization. Animating Democracy/American for the Arts found the initiative to be “an informative and valuable test … of applied humanities.”•Partnered with the Orton Family Foundation to bring the nationally successful Community Heart and Soul® method to PA. Now in 16 communities, PA Heart & Soul has been called a model example of “the humanities in action” by evaluators Elizabeth Myrick and Rachel Mosher-Williams, attracting co-funding and direct support from multiple state agencies. •Expanded its award-winning Teen Reading Lounge program to reach a diverse group. Teens who take part in this interactive, nontraditional book club report stronger interpersonal, communication, literacy, and critical-thinking skills—and increased confidence.•Vocal advocate for the cultural sector, leading participatory mixed-methods research like Humanities in Action, PA Humanities Discovery Project, and PA CultureCheck, putting findings into action with innovative, grantmaking like Wingspan, which cultivate space for creativity and connection. Also a thought leader in the academy and philanthropy, with published work on centering the human in graduate education and emergent strategies in philanthropy.