Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation names new executive director

The Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation has named Joe Youngblood as its new executive director, effective September 1. Youngblood has served as Assistant Dean for Development and External Affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin since 1999, and as Director of the LBJ Foundation’s Institute for the 21st Century since 2003.

Youngblood replaces Harry Middleton, executive director of the foundation since 1973. In his new capacity, Youngblood will lead the foundation’s diverse activities and programs, including collaborative efforts of the LBJ Library and Museum and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. He will also direct the foundation’s fundraising activities as well as provide guidance in the development of strategic plans by the LBJ Library and LBJ School for the use of financial support provided by the LBJ Foundation.

In making the announcement, LBJ Foundation President Larry Temple said: “The LBJ Foundation was created by President Johnson in 1970 after his retirement. The Foundation’s mission is to provide support for the LBJ Library and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. With his extensive and successful background both in public affairs and in development, Joe Youngblood is ideally suited for this position. We look forward to the energetic and talented leadership he will give as Executive Director of our Foundation.” During his time at the LBJ School, Youngblood directed a successful $30 million capital campaign, which helped establish programs such as the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service and the Center for Ethical Leadership. He also helped establish the Institute for the 21st Century, a collaborative effort of the LBJ Foundation, LBJ Library and LBJ School designed to build new models of public dialogue based on scholarly analysis and public education. The early part of Youngblood’s career was spent in Washington D.C., first as a financial analyst with the Federal Reserve Board, then as a director with the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership, where he designed programs to promote and finance cooperative environmental initiatives between the United States and 34 countries in Asia. Born and raised in Texas, Youngblood holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. “The LBJ School and the LBJ Presidential Library have played a major role in public affairs over the last 30 years,” said Youngblood. “I am honored and excited by the opportunity to help support the School and Library in their efforts to develop ideas for addressing critical local, national and international issues that we will face in the 21st century.”

High Resolution

For additional information, contact Anne Wheeler at (512) 721-0216.