NPR is pleased to announce that on Nov. 20, Jo Lambert was elected by the NPR board of directors as chair of the board. Lambert joined the board as a public director in 2022 and previously served as vice chair.
Additionally Shawn Turner was elected vice chair of the board. Turner joined the board in 2024 as a member director.
“I am honored to step into the role of board chair at this consequential moment for NPR and the public media system,” said Lambert. “The past year has clearly demonstrated our incredible resilience and the profound, mission-critical strength of our 50-state Network. With strong momentum behind us — reflected in growing audience and donor support — I look forward to working with NPR's leadership and the entire Network to chart our course ahead.”
NPR's 23-member board of directors is comprised of 12 member directors who are managers of NPR Member stations and are elected to the board by their fellow Member stations, nine public directors who are prominent members of the public selected by the board and confirmed by NPR Member stations, the NPR Foundation chair, and the NPR president and CEO.
About: Jo Lambert
Lambert brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience scaling businesses globally in financial services, media and technology. She currently serves as OLO's chief operating officer, overseeing Strategy & Operations, Product & Engineering, Marketing, Customer Experience, Business Development and Partnerships helping Olo to drive the digital transformation of the restaurant industry for over 750 restaurant brands, 90 thousand locations and 80 million guests.
Prior to Olo, Lambert was president and general manager of Yahoo Consumer, where she oversaw the consumer business, including Yahoo (Mail, Sports, Finance, News, Life, Entertainment), TechCrunch, Makers and AOL. She led a global team serving Yahoo's 900 million monthly active users across media and content, product, subscriptions, commerce and customer service. Lambert has held various executive positions at Paypal, Venmo and American Express.
Lambert holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. She is the chair of the board of PENCIL, a NYC-based non-profit supporting public schools.
About: Shawn Turner
Shawn Turner is the general manager of WKAR Public Media, based in East Lansing, Michigan. He is also a professor of strategic communication at Michigan State University. Prior to his current position, Turner served in senior positions in government, nonprofit and academic organizations. His previous positions in government include deputy White House press secretary for National Security, director of communication for National Intelligence at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and deputy press secretary for Foreign Affairs for the National Security Council (NSC). As a senior intelligence officer, Turner was responsible for coordinating all internal and external communication on behalf of the 17 agencies and components that make up the U.S. intelligence community. At the White House and the NSC, Turner was a principal spokesperson for U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Turner currently serves as a member of the board of trustees for the German Marshall Fund (GMF) and sits on the executive board of advisors for the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He previously served on the board of advisors for the National Security Agency (NSA). Turner's non-governmental experience includes serving as an adjunct professor in the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and as the director of communication at the Center for a New American Security. He is also a former Distinguished Terker Fellow in George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs. Turner has published numerous articles on national security and authored book chapters on risk communication for national defense, and information-processing and cognitive theories. In 2013, the National Journal named Turner one of Washington DC's top decision makers. In 2015, he was awarded the Intelligence Community Leadership Award, and in 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award for outstanding career accomplishments and exemplary service to the nation.
Prior to his civilian career, Turner served 21 years in the Marine Corps. He received his B.A. degree in communication studies from Texas State University and an M.A. degree in communication from George Mason University.
About NPR:
NPR's rigorous reporting and unsurpassed storytelling connect with millions of Americans every day — on the air, online and in person. NPR was founded on a mission to create a more informed public — one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures. With a nationwide network of award-winning journalists and more than a dozen international bureaus, NPR and its Member organizations are never far from where a story is unfolding. Listeners and readers can find NPR everywhere — through their local Member stations (npr.org/stations), online at NPR.org, wherever podcasts are available, and by downloading the NPR App. The NPR app brings together the best of the NPR Network from around the world and right in your community — live radio, podcasts, the latest local and national news and more — available wherever you are and whenever you want. Get more information at npr.org/about and by following NPR Extra on Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads and Instagram.
About the NPR board of directors:
The NPR board of directors is responsible for the governance of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The board sets the policies and overall direction for NPR management, monitors the performance of NPR and provides financial oversight.
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