Lindauer was proud to partner with Tree of Life in the search for its Chief Executive Officer. Congratulations to Carole Zawatsky on her appointment.
Carole Zawatsky is a leading figure in arts, culture and nonprofit management with more than 30 years experience in the Jewish communal world. She specializes in creating and implementing dynamic partnerships between the philanthropic community and the institutions she serves to cultivate strong, impactful organizations. Over her career, she’s raised nearly $100 million, including several multimillion dollar gifts.
As the inaugural CEO of the reimagined Tree of Life, Carole will oversee the public launch of the new institution dedicated to ending antisemitism and lay the groundwork for its long-term success, a role she’s filled a number of times throughout her career. She will also oversee the rebuilding of the structure at the corner of Shady and Wilkins Avenues in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, and lead the development of Tree of Life’s programming and exhibitions, as well as finalize the merger of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh into the new organization.
Carole served as CEO of the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center (EDCJCC) in Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2020. In that role she raised more than $3 million annually and over $21 million for a capital campaign to support the complete renovation of its historic 65,000 square foot building. During her nine year tenure at the EDCJCC, she brought national recognition to the Center, expanding its reputation as a premier space for art and culture, thereby driving growth in all of its programming areas. After concluding her tenure at the EDCJCC, Carole served as chief advancement and strategy officer for the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia.
She also previously held senior positions at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio, the Jewish Museum in New York, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She began her career at the Skirball Museum at Hebrew Union College and the J. Paul Getty Museum in California.
Carole’s broad experience has also made her a sought after consultant to Jewish institutions and within academia, including the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the Georgetown University Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics.
Carole holds a Master of Arts Degree in museum education from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in art history from the University of Maryland. She has also studied at the Study Centre for the Fine and Decorative Arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.