For Immediate Release Contact: Terence Burke
October 24, 2019 terence.burke@jfklfoundation.org
617-901-1697
JOHN F. KENNEDY LIBRARY FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN ROTHSTEIN TO STEP DOWN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR RACHEL FLOR NAMED NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Boston, Mass – The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that after a three-year tenure marked by record fundraising, successful high-profile events including President Kennedy’s Centennial and the recent 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Steven M. Rothstein has decided to step down from his position as executive director of the Foundation at the end of the year. Deputy Director Rachel Flor was chosen by the Foundation’s Board to be the new executive director. She will begin transitioning into the role in November to assume full responsibilities in January 2020.
“The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is fortunate that Steven came to us with his experience in education, human services, and government to create stability and reinvigorate our fundraising efforts, which resulted in one of the most successful periods in the Foundation’s history. We thank him for his dedication and tireless efforts on behalf of the Foundation,” said John F. Kennedy Library Foundation Board Chair Ronald Sargent. “Looking forward, the Board unanimously chose Rachel Flor as the Foundation’s next executive director due to her steadfast commitment to the Foundation’s mission and the significant accomplishments she has already achieved at the Foundation over her 13 years with the organization. The Board recognizes Rachel’s proven success in engaging new generations who are inspired by President Kennedy’s example of public service, civic engagement, and thinking boldly to change the world.”
“I am thrilled that Rachel Flor will be the Foundation’s next leader. She is a visionary who has quietly guided the Library’s most successful initiatives and is responsible for our greatest achievements over the past decade. No one works harder or more effectively to ensure that John F. Kennedy’s legacy of public service and political courage remains a source of inspiration for new generations,” said Caroline Kennedy, honorary president of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. “We are grateful to Steven Rothstein for his service and contributions over the past three years and wish him success in his future endeavors.”
“President Kennedy is a personal hero of mine, especially because of his focus on civil rights, his commitment to bold ideas like going to the moon, the Peace Corps, and improving services for people with disabilities. This made my time with the Foundation an honor and a true labor of love,” said Rothstein. “I am grateful to the Foundation Board for providing me with this remarkable opportunity and to the hardworking Foundation staff who have made our shared success possible over the last three years. I will remain an ardent supporter of and advocate for the Foundation and its work in promoting President Kennedy’s legacy.”
“I can think of no greater honor than to lead the organization that I care about so deeply,” said Flor. “The past 13 years have given me insight into the limitless possibilities for the Kennedy Library Foundation’s future and I am excited to work with the dedicated staff at the Foundation and the Library to make them a reality. I look forward to collaborating with the Board, the Kennedy family, the Foundation and Library teams, and our supporters to inspire new generations who, like President Kennedy, want to improve their communities, countries, and the world through civic engagement and public service.”
John F. Kennedy Library Director Alan Price praised Rothstein for his work at the Foundation and said of Flor’s appointment to executive director, “Rachel’s impressive achievements in leading and collaborating on major initiatives continue to bring substantial benefits to the Library and our work to preserve and promote President Kennedy’s history and legacy.”
Most recently, Flor conceived and led the day-long JFK Space Summit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, along with the JFK Centennial Profile in Courage Award honoring President Obama, and the 2019 ceremony honoring Speaker Nancy Pelosi. During her tenure, she played a critical role in planning and executing the Foundation’s three-year celebration of the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s administration and the 2015 JFK Symposium in Japan. She has also overseen the Foundation’s innovative, public-facing outreach initiatives, including award-winning digital, social media, and advertising campaigns.
In her current role as deputy director, Flor has been responsible for leading the Foundation’s overall program management, operations, project management, strategic communications, marketing, and outreach functions. She also oversees the Foundation’s public programs, the Profile in Courage Award and the New Frontier Awards, and serves as the liaison for Foundation and JFK Library partnership initiatives.
Flor joined the Foundation staff in December 2006 and has served in a variety of roles including in the development department and as head of communications, digital media, and marketing. Before joining the Foundation, Flor worked at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, where she directed the RFK Book and Journalism Awards program and the annual RFK Memorial Golf Tournament. She holds a M.A. in Modern English Literature from University College London and a B.A. in English Literature from George Washington University. A native of Needham, MA, Flor lives with her husband, John Flor, and their two children in Easton, Massachusetts.
Flor will oversee all operations of the Foundation, the 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. She will work with the Foundation staff to sustain and grow the Library’s role in perpetuating and promoting the relevance and significance of the inspiring ideas, policies, and programs that President Kennedy advanced throughout his life and presidency.
Headshot of Rachel Flor available here.
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About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.