Folger Shakespeare Library Names Wendy Lin as Chief Financial Officer

Lin will work with Folger Director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper at a time of strategic growth and organizational transformation

(Washington, DC)—The Folger Shakespeare Library today announced the appointment of Wendy Lin as Chief Financial Officer. Lin’s arrival will coincide with the start of strategic planning at the nearly 100-year-old organization, and she will guide financial analysis and operational execution under the leadership of Folger Director Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper. Lin will be a key member of the Folger’s senior team, overseeing financial operations across the organization and advising the Board of Governors.

“As the Folger looks to map out its second century, it’s essential that our finance culture be transparent and responsive,” said Dr. Karim-Cooper. “Wendy has the talent, discipline, and collaborative spirit to create a financial strategy that will ensure the long-range success of our vision to build authentic citizenship through Shakespeare and the humanities. I am thrilled to welcome her to the leadership team at the Folger.”

Lin was recruited through a search process led by Isaacson, Miller. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at First Book, a national nonprofit focused on educational equity for children in need. At First Book, Lin is a strategic advisor to the CEO and oversees the organization’s financial strategy, multi-million-dollar operating budget, and a diverse funding portfolio. Prior to First Book, Lin spent more than a decade with Laureate Education, advancing through senior leadership positions spanning finance, pricing strategy, business operations, and product innovation. She brings more than 20 years of experience in financial strategy, organizational leadership, and sustainable growth to the Folger.

“The Folger is remarkable in that it brings together scholarship, education, performance, and public engagement in a way few organizations can,” said Lin. “I am honored to join an organization with such an extraordinary legacy and exciting future, and I look forward to helping advance its mission and impact in the years ahead.”

Lin will oversee the Folger’s financial strategy, planning, and budgeting, ensuring alignment between the organization’s programmatic objectives and available resources. She will ensure the Folger’s work to showcase the utility of Shakespeare and the humanities is grounded by sound financial practice. Lin will start at the Folger on August 10, 2026.

About the Folger Shakespeare Library

The Folger Shakespeare Library showcases the utility of Shakespeare and the humanities in cultivating healthy civic life. Anchored by the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the Folger is also home to a world-renowned collection of books, manuscripts, and prints from the 1500s to the early 1700s. Visitors to the Folger can choose how they want to experience the arts and humanities, from interactive exhibitions to captivating performances, and from pathbreaking research to transformative educational programming. The Folger fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking and welcomes visitors from Washington, DC and from across the globe. Learn more at www.folger.edu.