Miami’s Knight Foundation announces new leaders in community, AI, research

A major Miami-based philanthropic, educational and civic institution has announced changes in its leadership. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which funds journalism, arts and culture, and research in media and democracy, appointed three new vice presidents.

“As we navigate a rapidly evolving world, these strategic leadership changes ensure we’re not just keeping pace—but leading the way,” Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of the Knight Foundation, said in a statement. “The appointments underscore our commitment to adapting with purpose and ensuring our work continues to strengthen democracy and empower the communities we serve.”

Here’s what to know:

Community: Francesca de Quesada Covey, the new vice president for community impact, will manage a grant portfolio of over $250 million across the 26 cities where the Knight brothers once owned and ran newspapers. De Quesada Covey previously was chief innovation and economic development officer for Miami-Dade County.

Artificial intelligence: Kelly Jin, the new vice president for AI and Insights as well as chief of staff, will oversee the assessment of grant-making to guide future investments and build a strategy for integrating AI tools across the Knight Foundation. Jin joined the Knight Foundation in 2021 as vice president for communities and national initiatives.

Information and research: John Sands, the new vice president for Knight’s new information and society program, will oversee efforts to understand how information and technology are shaping society as well as policy research to advance free expression and access to information. Sands joined the Knight Foundation in 2019 and most recently was senior director of media and democracy.