The Heinz Endowments announced the appointment of Michelle Figlar to the new position of Vice President for Learning. As a champion of child development and early learning initiatives, Ms. Figlar will oversee the Endowments’ grantmaking focus on education, family support and related programs. Ms. Figlar joins the Endowments from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services and Education where she served as Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. She was also a member of the Advisory Council for Remake Learning and served as a member of several early education organizations including the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council and the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Advocates Committee.
Ms. Figlar and her family will relocate to Pittsburgh prior to taking up her position with the Endowments on August 8, 2016.
Following a detailed strategic planning process, the Endowments has introduced three key vice president positions to help drive grantmaking through the organization’s five program areas: Education; Children Families and Youth; Arts & Culture; Economic Development; and Science & the Environment. In addition to Michelle Figlar as Vice President for Learning, the foundation has named Janet Sarbaugh as Vice President for Creativity and Andrew McElwaine as Vice President for Sustainability & the Environment. Ms. Sarbaugh was previously Senior Program Director for Arts & Culture, and Mr. McElwaine re-joined the Endowments in 2015 as Senior Program Director for Sustainability & the Environment.