Executive MBA Student Selected as Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA

Anna Rathmann (EMBA’26) joined the Jane Goodall Institute USA (JGI USA) as executive director on March 1. 

Founded and built on the legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall, the Jane Goodall Institute promotes understanding and protection of great apes and their habitat. It inspires action by young individuals to protect both animals and people- and in doing so, protect the land we share. JGI also supports Dr. Goodall in her global advocacy on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity loss and zoonotic disease transfer. In her new position, Rathmann is responsible for managing the programming and operations of JGI in the U.S. and other countries it is implementing programming — primarily in East Africa.

Rathmann joins JGI USA from the Great Plains Conservation Foundation, where she served as its inaugural director in community conservation and sustainable wildlife initiatives throughout Africa. She previously served a lengthy tenure at the National Geographic Society in a program and development management role. 

Steve Woodruff, JGI USA board chair, noted her substantial skill set and diverse range of experiences with animal protection organizations. 

“Anna brings the right skill set to the organization at the perfect time, as we continue to strengthen and expand our capacity across a range of conservation and animal protection programs,” said Woodruff. “She will lead a very strong team and we are excited at the prospect at all that JGI USA can accomplish under her leadership.”

Rathmann contributes much of her success in securing this new position to her time in the Georgetown McDonough Executive MBA Program.  

“I know for a fact that the Georgetown EMBA was a contributing factor in my selection,” said Rathmann. “I remain exceptionally grateful for the opportunity to join the Hoya community and I look forward to applying my degree leading the Jane Goodall Institute USA forward.”