The new president and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Dr. Mariko Silver, is a renowned leader with extensive experience in charity, education, government, and the arts. Her diverse background, including leadership roles in various sectors, instills confidence in her ability to lead the esteemed New York-based organization. She succeeded Henry Timms, who left the position after five years to take a leadership position with the international public relations firm Brunswick Group.
A Leader with a Diverse Background
Silver is bringing in a wealth of experience to Lincoln Center from her time there as president and CEO of the Henry Luce Foundation. There, she played a crucial role in furthering the foundation’s goals of fostering innovation, enhancing knowledge, and strengthening leadership via grantmaking and teamwork. Her leadership at the Luce Foundation is only one aspect of an incredible career that has taken her to the forefront of significant projects and reforms across several industries.
Silver played a crucial role throughout the Obama administration as Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Policy in the US Department of Homeland Security. She was in charge of creating and carrying out policies that significantly affected both domestic and global security in her role.
Governor of Arizona Janet Napolitano hired Silver as her policy advisor for economic development, innovation, and higher education before she started working for the federal government. In this capacity, she played a crucial role in creating governmental policies that supported innovation and economic progress.
Not to be overlooked is Silver’s leadership in higher education. Arizona State University, one of the most prominent public colleges in the country, saw significant growth and change due to her influence. Her work at ASU is frequently used as an example of how to update higher education to adapt quickly to a changing world.
After serving as president of ASU, Silver went on to lead Bennington College through a period of notable expansion and revitalization. Bennington College became a more robust and dynamic organization due to its strategic vision and dedication to the arts and education.
A Vision for the Future of Lincoln Center
Silver will expand on many previous Lincoln Center efforts to improve the accessibility and liveliness of the arts in New York City. Among these projects are the renovation of the Amsterdam Avenue portion of the Lincoln Center site and the yearly Summer for the City celebration, which draws hundreds of thousands of tourists and residents from all over the world to the campus to take part in free and pay-what-you-can events. Silver is anticipated to strengthen Lincoln Center’s dedication to promoting the arts for all people, guaranteeing the organization’s ongoing significance in the city’s cultural landscape.
In a statement, Steven R. Swartz, Chair of Lincoln Center’s Board of Directors, expressed his confidence in Dr. Silver’s ability to lead the organization into its next chapter. “Mariko is an innovative and proven leader with deep experience at complex organizations,” Swartz said. His endorsement of Dr. Silver’s leadership and her love of the arts instills confidence in her ability to steer Lincoln Center through its” important initiatives and strengthen its service to New York City and beyond.”
The Lincoln Center can be located from West 62nd Street to West 65th and is adjacent to Central Park. It holds various purposes, such as putting on concerts, theater, dance, opera, and movies, along with many other different types of shows. It has become one of the most iconic spots in all of Manhattan. Silver will be the 12th president in the history of the Lincoln Center and will look to build upon Manhattan’s most prestigious performing arts center.
