John Palfrey

President
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

John Palfrey is President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, one of the nation’s largest philanthropies, with assets of approximately $7 billion and offices in Chicago, Mexico City, New Delhi and Abuja, Nigeria.

Palfrey is a well-respected educator, author, legal scholar and innovator with expertise in how new media is changing learning, education and other institutions. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to rigorous thinking, disruption and creative solutions often made possible by technology, accessibility of information and diversity and inclusion. Palfrey has extensive experience in social change that spans the educational, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Palfrey served as Head of School at Phillips Academy-Andover. He was also the Henry N. Ess III Professor of Law and Vice Dean for Library and Information Resources at Harvard Law School. Palfrey graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and earned an MPhil from the University of Cambridge.