Maribel Perez Wadsworth

Maribel Perez Wadsworth is the 7th president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She is the first woman to lead the foundation since its founding in 1950, succeeding Alberto Ibarguen in January 2024.

Before joining the Knight Foundation Perez Wadsworth was the president of the USA Today Network and publisher of USA Today from November 2018 to December 2022.

She also currently serves on the governing board of the Pew Research Center and on the board of the Associated Press.

In May of 2025, Time named Perez Wadsworth as one of the leaders in Time100 Philanthropy 2025.