Michael Hill

CHAUTAUQUA — The next president of Chautauqua Institution will be Michael E. Hill, current president and CEO of Youth For Understanding USA.

Hill was appointed Friday by the Institution’s Board of Trustees, becoming Chautauqua’s 18th president and succeeding Tom Becker, whose 13-year tenure ends Dec 31.

Hill and Becker are expected to work together in the coming weeks to ensure a seamless transition for the 2017 season.

“I’m incredibly honored and humbled by this,” Hill told the OBSERVER on Friday. “I’ve been reading Chautauqua history and when you look at the presidents that have come before, it’s a pretty awesome undertaking … I couldn’t be happier.”

According to the Institution, Hill is an experienced leader of arts, cultural and social service organizations including Washington National Cathedral, The Washington Ballet and United Cerebral Palsy.  Youth For Understanding USA is one of the world’s oldest, largest and most respected intercultural exchange programs.

At 42, Hill has a diverse work history with a variety of organizations, holding senior management positions at several nonprofits and having extensive experience in fundraising, programming, marketing and communications.

Among his achievements, Hill directed a $125 million expansion of the historic Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., securing the largest single gift ever made to a theater in the United States.

At St. Bonaventure University, he oversaw the construction of a new museum complex, the addition of an artistic residency center and the quadrupling of programming at the university’s multi-venue arts complex.

During his college years, he served for a time as assistant editor for The Chautauquan Daily, and later served for several seasons as a guest critic for symphony and theater while serving as Director of The Quick Arts Center at St. Bonaventure University.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Michael is coming on board,” said Chautauqua Institution Board Chairman James Pardo. “He is a high-energy, visionary leader who understands how to balance tradition and progress. Michael has already logged an incredible track record of success for a person of his years. His unique background will help Chautauqua Institution connect more deeply with the community, reach new audiences and expand our exposure on a national and international stage.”

Hill said he looks forward to leverage the Institution’s strengths to engage Chautauquans in new ways and to find new audiences.

“Somebody asked me recently if I thought the Chautauqua model was broken … and I responded by saying that I think the Chautauqua model is more relevant than it’s ever been,” Hill said. “Chautauquans came here almost 150 years ago to ask big questions and  to explore the answers to those questions through religion, the arts and lectures. I believe that in the world right now — as it gets more divisive and confused — that places like Chautauqua have a very critical role to play in helping people explore those questions.”

Hill said the trick for Chautauqua is continuing its first-rate programming model in midst of a dynamic community and propelling it forward and outward.

“How do we have a broader dialogue, not only with our immediate region, but the nation and perhaps internationally?” he asked. “Because what happens here each summer really is among the deepest dives on critical issues facing society and my goal is not only to preserve and protect that, but find different ways to share it for those who are not fortunate enough to attend here.”

Hill also addressed the contentious amphitheater demolition and renewal, insisting that as president-elect, it wasn’t his job to think about the process by which that decision was made, but rather  to celebrate this new and incredible resource that “will continue to be the moral heart and center of Chautauqua.”

“For those who may have disagreed with that decision, it is my job to understand why they felt that way and to have them feel heard,” Hill said. “One of the great blessings of Chautauqua is that you bring incredibly intelligent people who are passionate, but who don’t always agree … and I think the fact that they don’t always agree is a good thing. I think it’s baked into the DNA of this place.”

Hill said a big part of his job is to help those who hold very strong beliefs about where this place has been and “marry” those with those who may have some different ideas and visions of where it may go.

A native of Norfolk, Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at St. Bonaventure University, where he is a member of their Board of Trustees, and a master’s degree in arts and cultural management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.