Yale Law Dean Heather Gerken Named Ford Foundation President

Heather Gerken, dean of Yale Law School since 2017 and the school's first female dean, will become the 11th president of the Ford Foundation in November 2025, succeeding Darren Walker. Gerken is recognized for her leadership in expanding access to legal education, including initiatives like full-tuition scholarships for low-income students and programs supporting underrepresented communities. Her tenure at Yale also saw increased diversity among students and a commitment to addressing economic barriers in the legal profession. The Ford Foundation board praised her as a thoughtful, innovative leader dedicated to equity, justice, and democracy, aligning with the foundation’s mission. Gerken expressed gratitude for the opportunity to advance the foundation’s work on protecting democracy and promoting social justice. Her legal background includes expertise in constitutional law and voting rights, and she previously clerked for Supreme Court justices, further supporting her qualifications to lead one of the world’s wealthiest philanthropic organizations.