Arlene Shuler is a previous president and chief executive officer of New York City Center, where she began her career as a dancer with the Joffrey Ballet. From 1990 to 2001, Ms. Shuler worked at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where she was vice president for planning and development and then senior vice president of planning and external affairs. Other arts management positions include dance program administrator at the National Endowment for the Arts and executive director of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. In the field of philanthropy, Ms. Shuler served as executive director of The Howard Gilman Foundation, deputy director of the Wallace Funds, president of General Atlantic Partners Foundation, and vice president of Atlantic Philanthropic Service Company. At New York City Center, she conceived the acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival, which successfully premiered in September 2004. In 2009, Ms. Shuler was awarded the prestigious Capezio Dance Award in recognition of her significant contributions to dance.
Ms. Shuler attended Columbia University where she received a B.A. degree magna cum laude and a J.D. degree. She serves on the board of The George Balanchine Foundation and on the advisory board of the Trust for Mutual Understanding. She is also a member of the Bar of the State of New York.