Sherry Lansing

Sherry Lansing has had a distinguished career in the motion picture business that spans nearly 30 years, marked by her role in the production, marketing, and distribution of over 200 films, including Academy Award winners "Forrest Gump," "Braveheart," and "Titanic." Lansing made history in 1980 as the first woman to head a major film studio when she was appointed President of 20th Century Fox. As an independent producer, she was responsible for a slew of successful films such as "Fatal Attraction," "The Accused," "School Ties," "Indecent Proposal," and "Black Rain." In 1992, she returned to executive roles, serving as Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures for more than 12 years.

In 2005, Lansing founded the Sherry Lansing Foundation (SLF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer research, health, public education, and encore career opportunities. Major initiatives of SLF include the EnCorps STEM Teachers Program, which recruits and retrains retired and mid-career professionals from various sectors to serve as math and science teachers in underserved California public schools, significantly enhancing STEM education. She also co-founded Stand Up to Cancer, a transformative initiative that has raised over $700 million for collaborative cancer research. Additionally, Lansing created PrimeTime LAUSD, a program that engages retirees in supporting public education through volunteerism.

Beyond her philanthropic work, Lansing serves on the Board of Regents of the University of California and on the boards of several foundations and research institutes, including the Broad Museum, the Carter Center, and the Scripps Research Institute. Her myriad contributions to the entertainment industry and her philanthropic efforts have been recognized widely. She has received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, the Exemplary Leadership in Management Award from UCLA Anderson School of Management, and was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2017. A testament to her influence, Lansing was the first female film studio head to place hand and footprints at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in 2005, and she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996.

Lansing graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwestern University in 1966 and holds an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the American Film Institute. Her educational background also includes her early career as a high school math teacher before she entered the film industry, underscoring her lifelong commitment to education and mentorship.