The David and Lucile Packard Foundation announced today the promotion of Felicia Madsen to Communications Director, effective June 30, 2014. Madsen will oversee the Foundation’s strategic communications efforts to support its program areas and central operations.
Madsen joined the Packard Foundation’s communications team in 2011 as a communications officer where she oversaw strategic communications for the Conservation and Science program and supported other Foundation communications activities.
“Felicia is passionate about the issues that are most important to the Packard Foundation,” said Chris DeCardy, Vice President and Director of Programs. “Her deep experience of successfully leading issue-oriented communications strategies will help us both increase the impact of the Foundation’s investments and build strategic communications capacity among our staff and grantees.
Prior to her time at the Foundation, Madsen worked for Save The Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the San Francisco Bay. As its chief strategy officer, and previously political director, Felicia set the organization’s policy agenda, led government affairs outreach, and designed high-profile strategic communications and advocacy campaigns. She has also worked in Washington, D.C. and Chicago in a number of political and advocacy positions, including as the director of outreach for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee and community organizer for Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area (now Planned Parenthood Illinois).
“Strategic communications can be an essential tool to bring about change to the world’s most complex problems. I look forward to working across all Foundation programs to support our ambitious goals to improve the quality of life for families and restore our planet,” said Madsen. “I’m honored, and humbled, to take on this new role.”
Madsen holds a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University. She sits on the Board of Directors of Sacred Heart Community Services, an organization working to reduce poverty in the Silicon Valley.
