Current and Emeritus Trustees

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of thirteen members—two members of the US Senate, two members of the US House of Representatives, two members of the federal judiciary, one governor, two members of the general public, and three members of the academic community—who are appointed for six-year terms by the President of the United States. The Secretary of Education serves as an ex officio member. With the exception of the judges and the Secretary of Education, board membership is evenly divided between political parties.

U.S. Senators

  • Edward M. Kennedy (1988–2009)
  • Orrin G. Hatch (1988–2004)
  • Benjamin L. Cardin (2010–2016)
  • John Cornyn (2006–2016)
  • Joe Manchin III (2023-)
  • Roger Wicker (2024–)

U.S. Representatives

  • James R. Olin (1988–1989)
  • Paul B. Henry (1988–1990)
  • Norman Sisisky (1990–1996)
  • Wayne Allard (1992–1996)
  • Robert C. Scott (2002–2008)
  • Eric I. Cantor (2002–2008)

Federal Judiciary

  • Dorothy Wright Nelson (1988–1990)
  • Frank H. Easterbrook (1988–1994)
  • Jerre Williams (1991–1993)
  • Jose Cabranes (1995–2000)
  • Morris S. Arnold (1995–2003)
  • James H. Wilkinson (2003–2006)
  • Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain (2004–2009)
  • Steven M. Colloton (2006–2012)
  • Wm. Terrell Hodges (2011–2016)
  • Diane S. Sykes (2017–2023)
  • Terrence Berg (2017–)
  • Raymond M. Kethledge (2024–)

Governors

  • Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. (1989–1993)
  • George Perdue (2006–2006)
  • Joe Manchin III (2008–2012)

Public Members

  • Betty S. Murphy (1988–1993)
  • Delba Winthrop (1988–1989)
  • Marc Pacheco (1995–2000)
  • Robert W. Naylor (1991–1995)
  • Alan Lowy (1996–2001)
  • David W. Fleming (2003–2007)
  • Harvey M. Tettlebaum (2008–2012)
  • John J. Faso (2008–2013)
  • Terrence K. Wright (2022–)

Academic Members

  • Joan R. Challinor (1988–1994)
  • Lance Banning (1988–1991)
  • A.E. Dick Howard (1991–1993)
  • Elisabeth Griffith (1995–1996)
  • Louise Stevenson (1995–1999)
  • John R. Petrocik (2003–2008)
  • Jay P. Greene (2003–2005)
  • John C. Stagg (2006–2011)
  • Pauline Maier (2012–2013)
  • Drew R. McCoy (2004–2016)
  • Catherine Allgor (2012–2015)
  • Laura Dove (2024–)
  • Bradford P. Wilson (2024–)

Secretary of Education (ex officio)

  • Lauro F. Cavozos
  • Lamar Alexander
  • Richard W. Riley
  • Roderick R. Paige
  • Margaret Spellings
  • Arne Duncan
  • John B. King, Jr.
  • Betsy DeVos
  • Miguel Cardona