The Henry Luce Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gabrielle H. Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities, and Dr. Laurie L. Patton, president of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, to its Board of Directors.
“We are honored to have two extraordinary leaders join the Board,” Board Co-Chairs Debra Knopman and Terry Adamson said in a joint statement. “From her decades as a leader in higher education, Laurie Patton will add to this board’s expertise across nearly all of the Foundation’s areas of grantmaking, including Asia, Religion and Theology, and Democracy and Civic Life. As a leader in the arts, humanities, and public engagement at the state level, Gabe Lyon will bring a unique perspective on the potential for inspiration and innovation among state and local organizations vital to our civic culture.”
Lyon, a nationally recognized leader in the public humanities and civic engagement, and Patton, a distinguished scholar of religion and South Asia and a longtime leader in higher education, will strengthen the Foundation’s mission to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world.
“Gabe Lyon and Laurie Patton are exceptional additions to the Board of Directors,” said Jonathan Holloway, president and CEO of the Luce Foundation. “Gabe has shown, community by community, what the public humanities can do for our democracy, and Laurie is a scholar and institutional leader who understands how ideas move from the academy into public life. My colleagues and I look forward to working with them both as we advance the Foundation’s priorities in the years ahead.”
Reflecting on her appointment, Lyon stated: “Throughout my career, I’ve believed that the most important work begins with curiosity—the courage to question what we think we know, seek out perspectives different from our own, and imagine what doesn’t yet exist. For ninety years, the Luce Foundation has invested in that spirit of inclusive exploration and creative possibility. I’m honored to join the board of this remarkable institution.”
“I have long admired the Luce Foundation for the thought leadership that it provides,” said Patton. “In my travels in higher education and now at The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Luce-funded projects always seemed to open minds in new directions in key cultural areas. As I continued to learn more about the organization in recent months, I realized it was a perfect match. Luce supports efforts where twenty-first century humans can most effectively pursue a more democratic and just world, and I am honored to be a part of its work.”
Gabrielle H. Lyon
Gabrielle H. Lyon is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader with a career dedicated to education and civic engagement. As Executive Director and CEO of Illinois Humanities, she champions initiatives that connect people and communities through the public humanities to explore ideas, engage in dialogue, and strengthen democracy. She serves as Chair of the Illinois America 250 Commission, guiding efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through inclusive statewide engagement. Lyon holds a BA and MA in history from the University of Chicago and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to her role at Illinois Humanities, Lyon served as a Senior Researcher at the Great Cities Institute, Vice President for Education and Engagement at the Chicago Architecture Center, and Adjunct Professor of Social Impact at the Kellogg School of Management. Her research and writing focus on how participatory humanities experiences shape civic identity and drive social connection.
Throughout her career, Lyon has launched and led award-winning social impact organizations and initiatives, particularly those focused on equity in the humanities, science, and design. Her work has been recognized nationally, including with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring and recognition by the After School Alliance as a National After School Champion. Locally, she has been honored by Chicago Magazine as a Chicagoan of the Year, Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in DEI, and as Leadership Fellow by the Chicago Community Trust.
Laurie L. Patton
Laurie L. Patton currently serves as the President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. At the Academy, her first years have focused on engaging members in strengthening democracy, developing dynamic intellectual resources, learning from the local, and advancing the free pursuit of knowledge. A scholar, poet, translator, and educational leader, she was the first female President of Middlebury College from 2015–2025, Dean of Arts & Sciences and Durden Professor of Religion at Duke University, and Inaugural Director of the Center for Faculty Development and Candler Professor of Religion at Emory University. She began her career at Bard College.
An authority on South Asian history, culture, and religion, and on religion in public life, Patton is the author or editor of ten scholarly books and three books of poetry, and translated the Bhagavad Gita for the Penguin Classics series. She served as president of the American Academy of Religion in 2019 and was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2018. She holds a BA from Harvard University and a PhD from the University of Chicago.
