(Philadelphia, July 8, 2021)––The Philadelphia Orchestra Association is pleased to announce the election of Erika James,dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Nancy Rogers,seniorvice president of corporate social responsibility, chief sustainability officer, and president of Lincoln Financial Foundation for Lincoln Financial Group, to its Board of Directors.
“We are so pleased to welcome Erika James and Nancy Rogers to our Board of Directors and Orchestra family,” said Orchestra Board Chair Ralph W. Muller. “With their diverse array of professional and philanthropic experiences, they will offer tremendous insight as The Philadelphia Orchestra reunites with audiences and the communities of Philadelphia. We look forward to the organization’s next chapter and to the support of such a dedicated Board of Directors.”
Erika James is dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant, and researcher, she is the first woman and first person of color to be appointed dean in Wharton’s 139-year history. She has paved the way for women in leadership both in education and corporate America and has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking executive education programs, including the Women’s Leadership program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School. James holds a PhD and master’s degree in psychology from Pomona College of the Claremont Colleges in California. In addition to her academic responsibilities, she is a board member of SurveyMonkey, a California-based market research and customer-experience company, the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), and several organizations that align with her passion for education and advancing women in business. She is also a board member of Save the Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic opportunities. James was named one of the “Top 10 Women of Power in Education” by Black Enterprise and one of the “Power 100” by Ebony.
Nancy Rogers serves as senior vice president of corporate social responsibility, chief sustainability officer, and president of Lincoln Financial Foundation for Lincoln Financial Group. In these roles, she oversees sustainability strategy and practices, corporate philanthropy, and community involvement. Prior to joining Lincoln Financial in 2005, she helped launch the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where she was vice president for institutional and external affairs. Rogers earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from LaSalle University in Philadelphia and has certificates in Executive Leadership Development from the Wharton School and in Corporate Social Responsibility from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the board of the PhD Project and has previously served on the boards of Mercy Health System, Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Literacy, Homeless Advocacy Project, Support Center for Child Advocates, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia Dance Alliance, and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Rogers is a member of the Forum of Executive Women, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Council for the Conference Board. She has been recognized by the National Diversity Council as a Top 50 Corporate Social Responsibility Leader and one of the Most Powerful and Influential Women in Pennsylvania.
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Philadelphia Orchestra Association Board of Directors
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