FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2016
Press contact: Rachel Flor (617) 514-1662
rachel.flor@jfklfoundation.org
Steven M. Rothstein Named Executive Director of the
John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
BOSTON, MA – Kenneth R. Feinberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, today announced the selection of Steven M. Rothstein as the new Executive Director of the organization. An accomplished non-profit administrator, public servant, and entrepreneur, Rothstein led the world-renowned Perkins School for the Blind through a period of significant growth during his eleven year tenure as President of the institution.
“Steven Rothstein’s proven success leading complex and ambitious educational, human service, government and business organizations makes him uniquely suited to advance the strategic vision of the Kennedy Library Foundation,” said Feinberg. “Throughout his career, Steven has answered President Kennedy’s call to service, dedicating himself to social justice and human progress. We are fortunate that he will now lead the Foundation in inspiring the next generation to become engaged citizens and make the world a better place.”
Archivist of the United States, David S. Ferriero expressed his support for the selection of Rothstein, noting that “his background and experience come at a critical time as we build on the decades of public-private partnership which the Foundation and the Library have enjoyed.”
Beginning September 6, 2016, Rothstein will oversee all operations of the Foundation, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization that provides financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a federal institution governed by the National Archives and Records Administration. In this role, Rothstein will work with staff to position the Foundation at the center of an interactive world-wide dialogue on President Kennedy’s legacy and the continued significance of the ideas, policies and programs that he advanced throughout his life and presidency.
“I am truly humbled to be appointed the next Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation,” said Rothstein. “Through the inspiration of President Kennedy and members of his family, I have built my career around assisting individuals that have been in the shadows of society. I am thrilled to join our amazing board, team, and supporters at the Foundation and look forward to building upon the successful collaboration between the Foundation and Library to make President Kennedy’s legacy accessible to new generations.”
Read an introductory letter from Rothstein to Foundation friends and supporters.
At Perkins, the first and largest school for the blind in the United States, Rothstein grew in-person and online educational services from 40,000 to 900,000 people, diversified teacher training services to all 50 states, increased academic offerings, and expanded programming to 30 new countries. While there, with strong partners, staff and Board members, he completed a $136 million capital campaign, the largest in the school’s history; led the largest capital building program in 100 years; and grew annual operating revenue from $40 million to $72 million. In collaboration with the Perkins team, he also started and led the school’s online educational programs, establishing Perkins as the largest trainer of teachers and parents in the blindness field.
Most recently, Rothstein served as CEO of Citizen Schools, a national non-profit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities. During his time at Citizen Schools, the reach of educational and STEM services nearly quadrupled from 5,000 to almost 20,000 students.
In 1979, Rothstein was part of the founding team of Joseph P. Kennedy II’s Citizens Energy Corporation. In his six years as General Manager at Citizens, the world’s first nonprofit social mission oil company, they assisted needy citizens in low cost oil, natural gas, electricity and pharmaceutical services. Citizens Energy, which continues to be led by Joe Kennedy, has delivered millions of gallons of home heating oil to poor and elderly households and provided a range of other valued services.
From 1987 to 1990, Rothstein served as Assistant Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. In 1990, he founded Environmental Futures, Inc., a consulting firm that helped introduce and expand green products and services; and in 1997, he co-founded National Energy Choice, one of the first electricity and energy brokers in the country.
Having served on numerous non-profit boards throughout his career, Rothstein is currently a Director of the Brady Campaign and Brady Center for the Prevention of Gun Violence. He graduated with honors from Williams College and received a Master of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University. He and his wife, Susan Maze-Rothstein, have two grown sons and reside in Somerville, Massachusetts.
About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. The private financial support provided by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation enables the federal government to expand the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s research and archival capacity, to undertake marketing and public information projects, to offer intern and research fellowship programs, to enhance its museum and exhibits, and to offer nationally recognized educational and public programming.
By sponsoring and administering programs such as the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, the New Frontier Award, and the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for High School Students, the Foundation is united with the Library in a common mission to perpetuate President Kennedy's ideal that political and public service be conducted and exemplified as an honorable and patriotic profession.
About the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Library seeks to advance the study and understanding of President Kennedy's life and career and the times in which he lived; and to promote a greater appreciation of America's political and cultural heritage, the process of governing and the importance of public service.
The Kennedy Presidential Library’s archives currently include more than 8.4 million pages of the personal, congressional and presidential papers of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and more than 40 million pages of over 300 other individuals who were associated with the Kennedy Administration or mid-20th Century American history. In addition, the archives hold more than 400,000 still photographs; 9,000 hours of audio recordings; 1.5 million feet of motion picture film; and 1,200 hours of video recordings. The Kennedy Library also houses the Ernest Hemingway Collection, which spans Hemingway’s entire career, and contains ninety percent of existing Hemingway manuscript materials.