Lesley Albanese was senior vice president for initiatives at the Cato Institute. As a member of the Institute’s senior leadership team, she collaborated with the president, executive management and scholars on a range of strategic objectives and priorities as well as identified opportunities to establish new ventures. Albanese also was responsible for foundations and corporate support and major-gift solicitation, marketing, programming, and investing in the next generation through the Institute’s research associate program and student activities. She launched and oversaw Cato’s Project Sphere education initiative.
Before joining the Cato Institute, Albanese was the president and chief operating officer of the Center for Education Reform and the vice president of development at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Prior to joining the National Constitution Center, Albanese served as Cato’s vice president for development.
Albanese received a BA in business and political science from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.
