NEW YORK – February 11, 2025 – Echoing Green, a leading organization in the field of social innovation, announced today that it has named Esther T. Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of World Education Services (WES), as Co-Chair of its Board of Directors effective January 1, 2025. Benjamin will serve alongside current Co-Chair Carter McClelland, Chairman and Partner of Union Square Advisors. She succeeds Dr. Marie Kelly, who will remain on the organization’s board as Chairman Emerita, as well as on its Board of Trustees.
Benjamin brings 30 years of experience as a global executive driving the progress of social enterprise in the public, private, and civil sectors. In addition to leading WES, she led African operations for Laureate Education, Inc., the organization’s first university in Sub-Saharan Africa; served as Associate Director for Global Operations on behalf of the U.S. Peace Corps; and also held leadership positions with the International Youth Foundation and the International Partnership for Microbicides. She has also served under both the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as a United Nations Humanitarian Officer.
“With two decades of dedication as a board member, Esther has long been a champion of Echoing Green. From her global perspective to her expertise in cutting cross-sector change, Esther’s leadership has undoubtedly made Echoing Green a stronger organization. We’re delighted to work with her on an even deeper level as our new Board Co-Chair,” said Cheryl L. Dorsey, President of Echoing Green and 1992 Fellow. “We’re also especially grateful to Marie and Carter for more than four years of steady guidance and leadership as Board Co-Chairs. We look forward to continuing to work with both of them in their respective roles.”
“The Echoing Green community has meant so much to me over the 20 years that I’ve been engaged with the organization as a board member,” said Benjamin. “I’m delighted to serve as Board Co-Chair and support the organization’s continued growth, including executing our new strategic plan.”
An Echoing Green Board Member since 2005, Benjamin also serves on the Boards of B Lab Global and Candid, among others. She is a Visiting Fellow with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, SaÏd Business School, and University of Oxford. Benjamin holds master’s degrees from American University in international affairs and applied economics.
About Echoing Green
For 37 years, Echoing Green has been on the front lines of solving the world’s biggest problems, raising up the transformational leaders willing to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo. The organization finds emerging leaders with the best ideas for social innovation as early as possible and sets them on a path to lifelong impact. Echoing Green’s community of nearly 1,000 social innovators includes past Fellows such as First Lady Michelle Obama and the founders of Teach For America, Center for Black Innovation, GirlTrek, and One Acre Fund. Built and refined over three decades, Echoing Green discovers tomorrow’s leaders today, and then funds, connects, and supports a new generation of social impact leaders. For more information, visit www.echoinggreen.org
