Marielena Hincapié Appointed President, Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center

Respected immigration advocate to succeed renowned human rights activist Kerry Kennedy

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center Board of Directors today announced that Marielena Hincapié will succeed Kerry Kennedy as president of the organization starting January 1, 2027. Hincapié's appointment follows a nationwide presidential search that began after Kennedy announced in December 2025, her plans to step down at the end of 2026.

"Marielena has spent more than 30 years standing alongside workers and immigrants and fighting to uphold their fundamental rights," said Joseph P. Kennedy III, co-Board Chair of the Kennedy Human Rights Center. "She brings to this work an extraordinary depth of legal and policy expertise, a remarkable ability to bring people and communities together, and a steadfast moral compass. Whether she is sitting with workers who have been wrongfully incarcerated or sitting across from the President of the United States, Marielena's authentic leadership shines through. We are thrilled to welcome her as the leader of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center."

An immigrant from Medellín, Colombia, and the daughter of factory workers, Hincapié is a respected voice in the national dialogue on immigration, equity, and democracy. She previously served as executive director of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and of the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF). Under her leadership, NILC combined litigation, policy, and grassroots movement-building to defend and advance the rights of immigrants in the United States. She has received numerous accolades, including the Univision Corazón Award and the National Public Service Award from Stanford Law School, and was named a New America Fellow.

Hincapié has served on multiple boards, including the Indivisible Project, Jobs with Justice, and the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Management Center, a member of the General Board of Trustees of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and on the Supervisory Committee of the Finanta Credit Union. She has also held academic appointments at Northeastern University School of Law; the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law; and, most recently, as an Immigration Law and Policy Fellow at Cornell Law School's Migration & Human Rights Program.

"It is an honor to build on the legacy of Sen. Robert and Ethel Kennedy, and the organization that Kerry, the Board, and staff have stewarded," said Marielena Hincapié. "At a time when the world faces a historic contest between democracy and authoritarianism, when human rights violations flourish and an inclusive society that respects everyone's rights and dignity hangs in the balance, the Center's work is more important than ever. I look forward to partnering with our many stakeholders to build on the Center's strong foundation, meeting this moment and the challenges of the decades ahead."

At the conclusion of her transformative tenure, Kerry Kennedy will serve on the Board as President Emeritus and will continue to support the organization's work through key initiatives and events. A noted human rights activist and lawyer, she worked to change laws, win strategic cases, and free prisoners who were unjustly incarcerated across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the United States over her 40-year career.

"Kerry is our hero," said Frank Baker, co-Chair of the Kennedy Human Rights Center Board. "She has spent her career boldly speaking truth to power, fearlessly standing alongside change agents, making their struggles hers, and patiently championing their causes until real systemic change was achieved, all while building a world-class human rights organization. On behalf of the Kennedy Human Rights Board of Directors and staff, thank you, Kerry, for your light, laughter, courage, and all that you did to make the world a better place."

"My parents taught me to respect the dignity of every human being. That is the ethos behind our work. I'm deeply grateful for everything we've built together and for the human rights defenders whose courage inspires me every step of the way," said Kerry Kennedy, outgoing president of the Kennedy Human Rights Center. "I look forward to supporting Marielena as she advances our advocacy, education, and business and human rights programs."

About the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
The Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that works across the courtroom, the boardroom, and the classroom to build a more just and peaceful world. Inspired by the legacies of Senator Robert and Ethel Kennedy, we work with international and domestic partners to protect fundamental human rights. We pursue strategic litigation to hold governments accountable at home and around the world; foster a social good approach to business; and train the next generation of changemakers through our human rights education programs.

SOURCE Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center