Leslie Koch
The Trust for Governors Island
President
Leslie Koch is the president of The Trust for Governors Island. Governors Island is a 172 acre island in New York Harbor. Ms. Koch is responsible for the planning, redevelopment and on-going operation of the 150 acres of the Island owned by The Trust. Under her leadership since 2006, Governors Island has been transformed from an abandoned military base into a vibrant public space, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and a diverse array of arts and cultural programs. Prior to The Trust, Ms. Koch was the CEO of the Fund for Public Schools, the nonprofit organization affiliated with the New York City Department of Education. She increased public participation in education and secured nearly $160 million in private sector support. A native New Yorker, she received a BA summa cum laude from Yale College and a MPPM from the Yale School of Management. She lives in Brooklyn.