Ben Jealous

Ben Jealous, a distinguished Rhodes Scholar, made history in 2008 when he became the youngest President and CEO of the NAACP, serving a transformative tenure until 2013. During his leadership, the organization significantly expanded its impact, registering 374,553 voters and mobilizing an impressive 1.2 million new voters for the 2012 presidential election. Jealous spearheaded critical policy advancements, supporting the abolition of the death penalty in Connecticut and Maryland, endorsing same-sex marriage, and vigorously fighting voter suppression laws. He also fostered crucial bipartisan collaborations, notably working with conservative leaders in Texas on criminal justice reform, which led to the first scheduled prison closure in state history, and with Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell on voting rights reform.

His dedication to public service led him to run for office, becoming the Democratic Nominee for Governor of Maryland in 2018. Later, from 2020 to 2022, he served as President of People for the American Way, continuing to champion progressive causes and democratic values. Since 2022, Jealous has taken on the role of Executive Director of the Sierra Club, a position he holds until 2025, where he champions environmental justice and conservation efforts at a national scale. A respected voice and author, he is the co-editor of the New York Times Best-Selling ‘Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading and Succeeding.’ Further showcasing his intellectual contributions, Jealous authored ‘Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A Parable of American Healing,’ which was published in 2023.