Diana Ayton-Shenker




Most Recent Affiliation(s):


  • Leonardo, the International Society for Arts, Sciences and and Technology, Chief Executive Officer

Other Affiliation(s):


  • Arizona State University, _Professor

ISEA Bio(s) Available:


  • ISEA2022

    Diana Ayton-Shenker is CEO, Leonardo/ISAST, ASU Professor & Executive Director of Leonardo-ASU Initiative, author of 4 books (including  A New Global Agenda), and co-creator with William T. Ayton of large-scale A.R. public art installations (including New Babel, their NYC 10-story-tall sculpture, and New World City which received 2112 Foundation’s 2020 Visionary Award, and was the 1st A.R. art published by MITPress, and Leonardo).
    As Fast Forward Fund founder, Diana was honored by President Clinton, named #1 of “25 Leading Women Changing the World” (Good Business NY), and featured in “31 Inspiring Women in Nonprofit Management” (UNC). She was inaugural Nazarian Social Innovator in Residence (Wharton), Global Catalyst Senior Fellow (The New School), and Senior Fellow Venture Philanthropy (Bard College), and worked with Human Rights Watch, P.E.N, Mercy Corps, and the United Nations. Diana holds an LLM  (University of Essex Law School) and BA (University of Pennsylvania).

    ISEA2020

    Diana Ayton-Shenker is the CEO of Leonardo, the International Society for Arts, Sciences, and Technology; Executive Director of ASU-Leonardo Initiative, and Professor of Practice at Arizona State University. She is author and editor of four books, most recently “A New Global Agenda: Priorities, Practices, & Pathways of the International Community;” founder of multiple social enterprises including Global Momenta and the Fast Forward Fund; and has held senior positions with Human Rights Watch, P.E.N, and Mercy Corps. She was the inaugural Social Entrepreneur in Residence at Wharton, Global Catalyst at the New School (NYC), and Sr. Fellow in Venture Philanthropy (Bard College). Diana speaks four languages and holds an LLM, International Human Rights Law (University of Essex) and BA, International Relations (University of Pennsylvania).


Website:



Last Known Location:


  • New York City, New York, United States of America



Role(s) at the symposia over the years: