Cecilia Muñoz became the chair of The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees on Thursday. She is the 10th person to hold the top governance role in the foundation’s 98-year history. During her term, she will serve as the principal officer of the 14-member board, which is charged with overseeing Kresge’s $4.5 billion endowment. Muñoz, a national expert on public policy and public interest technology with deep roots in Detroit and in the civil rights movement, joined Kresge’s Board of Trustees in 2017.

“Cecilia’s exceptional public policy, nonprofit and organizational leadership experience, coupled with a lifelong passion to advocate for equitable social and economic solutions, make her an exciting selection as the next chair of The Kresge Foundation,” said Trustee Cynthia Kresge, who chairs the board’s Nominating and Governance Committee.

Muñoz succeeds Elaine Rosen, who served as board chair since 2007 and will retire in June after 18 years of dedicated service to the foundation.

“I have long admired Kresge’s leadership and staff for their deep expertise and commitment to supporting cities and their residents in a way that promotes equitable economic opportunity,” she said. “And it is very moving to support a vital institution with such deep roots in my hometown.”

President and CEO Rip Rapson said, “Since joining the Kresge board in 2017, Cecilia has contributed her robust experience and policy knowledge supporting Kresge’s purpose to expand opportunities in America’s cities. As our new board chair, I know she will continue to do so with profound empathy, intense respect and deep humility in service to our partners, and to the people and movements they serve in communities across this nation.”