July 30--The Barack Obama Foundation on Thursday announced the addition of three board members as it moves forward with plans to build the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago's South Side over the next five years.
Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr, Washington fundraiser Julianna Smoot and New York arts curator Thelma Golden are the newest members of the board. They join board Chairman Martin Nesbitt, J. Kevin Poorman, David Plouffe and Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, as volunteers leading the library and museum building project.
Doerr has worked with some of the world's leading entrepreneurs and tech companies for more than 30 years. He also served on President Barack Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
Smoot, an original member of the board, stepped down to focus on fundraising while the board focused on selecting a site for the library and museum. She worked on both of Obama's campaigns as a key strategic adviser, helping the president's campaign break records for fundraising in 2008 and 2012. She also served as the deputy assistant to the president and social secretary in the White House.
Golden has more than 20 years of experience in the art world and has curated and contributed to some of the country's foremost museums and collections. She is currently the director and chief curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, where she has worked since 2000.
"I am very much looking forward to joining the board of directors, and working to make the Obama Presidential Center a hub for creative expression through the arts," Golden said. "The South Side of Chicago has historically been the nexus of several important cultural movements for African-Americans, and I believe the new center will help usher in a new era of community engagement for this extraordinary neighborhood."
Doerr is expected to bring expertise in the area of technology.
"A cornerstone of President Obama's presidency has been the smart use of technology to improve the lives of all Americans," Doerr said. "I look forward to working with the board and with tech leaders so that the Obama Presidential Center connects us globally -- from kids in Hyde Park to soccer fans in Sao Paulo to teachers in Taipei."
dglanton@tribpub.com
