Jordan Steves Named Interim Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education
Chautauqua Institution today announced the interim appointment of Jordan Steves to the role of Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education. This appointment follows the announcement last week of the resignation of Matt Ewalt, Vice President and Emily and Richard Smucker Chair for Education, who is taking on a new role for The Texas Tribune.
As interim chair, Steves will lead the coordination, planning and presentation of the Chautauqua Lecture Series, the Institution’s signature lecture platform that takes place at 10:45 a.m. Monday-Friday during the Summer Assembly.
“Jordan brings a deep knowledge of and commitment to the mission and history of Chautauqua and the morning lecture program,” said Deborah Sunya Moore, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer. “Jordan has historically played a key role in our lecture theme development process and as producer for the Chautauqua Lecture Series, so we are both delighted and grateful that he will be able to hit the ground running as we finish preparations for and present the 2023 Summer Assembly and continue the multi-year planning work that is critical to the success of this lecture series.”
Steves has served Chautauqua as Director of Strategic Communications since 2017. He began his service full-time in 2009, first as the Chautauqua Lecture Series lecture associate within the Department of Education before moving to the Marketing and Communications department in 2014. His initial Chautauqua experience was in 2007 as an intern with The Chautauquan Daily. He later served as the newspaper’s editor from 2014 to 2017.
Steves’ appointment is part of an interim organization plan while the Institution conducts a national search.
ABOUT CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
Chautauqua Institution is a community on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York state that comes alive each summer — and year-round through the CHQ Assembly online platforms — with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. As a community, we celebrate, encourage and study the arts and treat them as integral to all of learning, and we convene the critical conversations of the day to advance understanding through civil dialogue.
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