Karen Sandler joins Conservancy's Management Team

Sandler becomes Conservancy's Executive Director; Kuhn transitions focus to new “Distinguished Technologist” role

March 31, 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014 — Software Freedom Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity based in New York, announced today the addition of a talented new member of its management team. Karen M. Sandler, formerly Executive Director of the GNOME Foundation, begins today as Conservancy's new Executive Director.

Bradley M. Kuhn, outgoing Executive Director, gratefully passes the torch to his long-time colleague Karen Sandler. While Kuhn's work as Conservancy's President and on its Board of Directors remain unchanged, Kuhn's new full-time staff role is titled “Distinguished Technologist”. Regarding this change, Kuhn said: “This new role allows me to continue to help shape, in coordination with the Board, the overall vision for the organization. My daily role will now focus on important long-term projects, such as leading our new initiative to build non-profit accounting software and our license enforcement efforts. I also look forward to recruiting more new member projects”.

Sandler expressed excitement in the opportunity to focus full-time on Conservancy's day-to-day management. Sandler noted: “I've been delighted to work as a volunteer for Conservancy in many ways, including as one of its pro-bono attorneys since its inception. Now, I can focus in a management role on the great work Conservancy does for its various member projects. Conservancy has also graciously encouraged me to continue some work at the GNOME Foundation in a volunteer capacity, including partnering in running the Outreach Program for Women. While I am sad to step aside from my daily role in GNOME, I am equally happy to join the team at Conservancy, which engages in some of the most important non-profit work in free and open source software”.

Sandler becomes the third full-time, and fourth overall, employee of Conservancy. While the entire staff remains based in New York City, Conservancy recently switched to full telecommuting for all employees — to both stretch donor dollars further and give employees excellent schedule flexibility for a good work/life balance.