John Palfrey — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Current President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, effective September 2019
Served as the 15th Head of School at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from 2012 to 2019
Henry N. Ess III Professor of Law and Vice Dean for Library and Information Resources at Harvard Law School
Executive Director of Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society from 2002 to 2008
Founding Chairman of the Digital Public Library of America when it became a stand-alone entity, serving until 2015
Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1994 and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2001
Co-captain of Harvard's 1994 undefeated national championship squash team

Biography

John Palfrey is the President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a role he assumed in September 2019. An American educator, scholar, and law professor, his research interests span law, technology, democracy, AI, education, speech, and diversity.

Palfrey previously served as the 15th Head of School at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from 2012 to 2019. Prior to that, he held multiple positions at Harvard Law School, including Henry N.