The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Board of Trustees has welcomed broadcast journalist Geoff Bennett '02, social justice advocate Antonia Hernández, and retired Virginia Supreme Court Justice John Charles Thomas as its newest board members.
"Colonial Williamsburg is fortunate to have Geoff Bennett, Antonia Hernández, and John Charles Thomas join its Board of Trustees. As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, their deep expertise and visionary leadership will help position Williamsburg at the epicenter of activity during this historic time in our nation's history," said Carly Fiorina, chair of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Board of Trustees, in an announcement Tuesday.
"I am excited and honored to join the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Board of Trustees! Williamsburg is the heart of our nation's founding and the foundation for much of my family's journey. My mother's family has roots in Williamsburg, stretching back several generations. My maternal grandmother worked at Colonial Williamsburg in the 1950s and owned adjacent properties in town with her sisters – a remarkable achievement for Black women at that time. For those reasons and more, Williamsburg holds special significance. I'm excited to advance and amplify the organization's mission of connecting people with a shared American story that can inspire and unite us all," said Bennett.
Bennett is an award-winning journalist who serves as co-anchor of "PBS NewsHour." He joined PBS in 2021 from NBC News, where he was a White House correspondent and substitute anchor for MSNBC. He has reported from the White House under three presidents and has covered five presidential elections. In 2022, Bennett was part of the NBC team that won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
The appointment of the Foundation's three new trustees expands the Board's membership to 25 as the world's largest U.S. history museum prepares to mark its centennial anniversary in 2026.
"Colonial Williamsburg is fortunate to have an engaged Board of Trustees who are deeply committed to the Foundation's evidence-based approach to telling a more complete story of America's founding generation," said Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. "Their leadership and support of our mission is preparing the Foundation for its next 100 years as a preeminent educational institution."
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Alumni Achievement