Dear Friends of the Corporation,
On behalf of the board of trustees and staff of Carnegie Corporation of New York, I am writing to share our deepest congratulations to our trustee Caroline Kennedy. Last week, President Biden nominated her as ambassador to Australia, noting Kennedy’s success in her previous role as U.S. ambassador to Japan from 2013 to 2017. The nomination is an acknowledgement of Kennedy’s outstanding accomplishments as an attorney; a best-selling author of books on law, civics, and poetry; and a champion of education.
Kennedy joined the Corporation’s board of trustees in 2018 after serving as the first woman in the role of U.S. ambassador to Japan. She was instrumental to the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the historic visits of President Barack Obama to Hiroshima and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Pearl Harbor. She advanced the realignment of U.S. forces in Okinawa — a move that is credited with strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. In addition, Kennedy is known for supporting the economic empowerment of women and for working to increase student exchanges between the U.S. and Japan.
Kennedy is well acquainted with the Corporation’s program areas of international peace, democracy, and K–12 education. From 2002 to 2013, she played a leading role in New York City school reform efforts, heading the Office of Strategic Partnerships and serving as vice chairwoman of the Fund for Public Schools. While transforming the fund into a vehicle of private support for public school reform, she helped create the first K–12 arts curriculum funded by the private sector. In other work, Kennedy has served on the board of advisors to the International Rescue Committee, a Corporation grantee, and as the honorary president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
Caroline Kennedy’s skills as a distinguished diplomat will strengthen our nation’s strategic relationship with Australia, advance our position as a standard-bearer for democratic ideals, and further global peace and stability. We are grateful for her dedication to the Corporation, to our country, and to the world. She is an inspiration to us all.
Warmest wishes for a healthy holiday season,
Governor Thomas H. Kean
Chairman, Board of Trustees