Chris Foster, Esther Wojcicki join Exploratorium Board of Trustees

SAN FRANCISCO (July 18, 2022) — William “Bill” F. Mellin, Chair of the Exploratorium Board of Trustees, announced the recent election of two new trustees, Chris Foster and Esther “Woj” Wojcicki. The 44-member Board is the highest governing body of the Exploratorium, overseeing its long-term direction and ensuring its financial sustainability. 

“I am delighted to welcome Chris and Esther as trustees and add their expertise to a Board that is dedicated to making the Exploratorium stronger and more resilient than ever,” Mellin said. “Chris has deep experience in finance and public policy around energy and climate, and Esther is deservedly recognized for her commitment to integrating technology into education. They share the Exploratorium’s values and mission to drive inquiry-based education that inspires learners today to help solve the challenges of tomorrow.” 

Wojcicki is an award-winning educator, journalist, and consultant. She is the founder of the Media Arts program at Palo Alto High School and the co-founder of Tract.app. A board member of Alliance for Excellent Education and Newseum, she also consults for the U.S. Department of Education, the Hewlett Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching, Google, the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, and Time Magazine Education​​.

Wojcicki received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UC Berkeley. She and her husband, Stan, have three daughters: Susan (CEO of YouTube); Janet, a Fulbright-winning anthropologist; and Anne (Co-founder & CEO of 23andMe), and 10 grandchildren.

Foster is the Executive Vice President and CFO of PG&E. He led the company’s efforts to advance pilot projects related to grid modernization and distributed energy resources, such as battery storage and electric vehicles. He also worked on Capitol Hill for a decade, serving in senior roles for multiple members of Congress and congressional committees, particularly related to energy and healthcare policy.

Foster graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University with a focus on political theory and constitutional democracy.