Patty Stonesifer served as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Post from June 2023 to January 2024. Ms. Stonesifer retired in 2019 as CEO of Martha’s Table, a frontline non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., supporting strong children, strong families, and strong communities by increasing access to quality education, health, and family supports.
In 1997 she joined Bill and Melinda Gates to launch the Gates Library Foundation. In 2000, the Foundation merged with the William H. Gates Foundation to create the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where Patty worked alongside Bill Gates, Sr. and served as volunteer CEO for 10 years working to fund and support organizations and efforts that work to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable populations around the world. Prior to leading the Gates Foundation, Patty spent two decades in technology, with her final role as Senior Vice President at Microsoft Corporation leading the consumer and interactive products division.
Patty was a founding board member of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and was Chair of the Smithsonian Board of Regents. She serves as a director on the board of Amazon.com, is on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for The Rockefeller Foundation, is a member of the Board of Advisors for The Dream.US and is Chair for the Co-Impact Board. Patty continues to serve as a pro bono advisor to philanthropists and non-profit leaders working to advance social justice.
She is a graduate of Indiana University, and has received honorary doctorate degrees from Indiana University, Tufts University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Trinity Washington University and American University.