Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. and Antonia Hernández, Co-Chairs of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), today announced that Monica C. Lozano and Dr. Rajiv J. Shah have been elected to the CPD’s board of directors. The CPD is the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has sponsored and produced all general election presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.
Lozano is President and Chief Executive Officer of College Futures Foundation, a California-based private foundation. College Futures Foundation partners with organizations and leaders across the state to catalyze systemic change, increase college degree completion, and close equity gaps so that educational opportunity becomes a reality for every student, regardless of skin color, zip code, or income.
Prior to joining College Futures Foundation, Lozano had an accomplished career in media as editor and publisher of La Opinión, the country’s leading Spanish language daily newspaper and then as CEO of the parent company, ImpreMedia. In 2016, Lozano joined the Aspen Institute to co-found and chair the newly created Latinos and Society Program.
Dr. Rajiv Shah is President of The Rockefeller Foundation, a global, philanthropic institution with a mission to promote the well-being of humanity and make opportunity universal. The Foundation applies data, science and innovation to improve global health, prevent pandemics, create nutritious and sustainable food systems, end energy poverty and increase access to renewable energy, and enable meaningful economic mobility in the United States.
From 2010-2015, Dr. Shah served as USAID Administrator. Dr. Shah reshaped the $20 billion agency’s operations around the world by elevating the role of innovation, creating high-impact public-private partnerships, and focusing on stronger results. Prior to his appointment at USAID, Shah served as Chief Scientist and Undersecretary for Research, Education, and Economics at the United States Department of Agriculture, creating the National Institute for Food and Agriculture.
Fahrenkopf and Hernandez noted, “We are deeply grateful to engage these two new directors as we plan for 2024. Their experience in public service, media and education is extensive and respected. They will also contribute to our work around the world through Debates International. They join the CPD in our 35th year of working to educate the public through fair, neutral and substantive general election debates.”
In addition to sponsoring and producing the general election debates, the CPD engages in voter education initiatives, provides technical assistance to sponsors of nonpresidential debates, and has established Debates International, a peer network of NGOs that seeks to start or improve leadership debates in their countries.