Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D. is President and CEO of The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations.

In his role as president and chief executive officer of The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations, Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D., continues his lifelong work to educate, elevate, and give voice to people in his communities.

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations match donors’ charitable resources with community-led solutions. Jolly began leading The Foundations in August 2015 and is forging meaningful, lasting partnerships with donors and members of the community to create a stronger, healthier and more equitable Minnesota.

Before joining the Foundations, Jolly was president of the Science Museum of Minnesota for a decade.

Jolly came to Saint Paul after serving as vice president and senior scientist at the Education Development Center in Massachusetts. Before that he worked as a professor and administrative leader in successive academic roles.

Jolly serves on a number of local and national boards, including the Bush Foundation, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and Greater MSP. Jolly is a member of honor societies, including Sigma Xi, Phi Eta Sigma, Mortarboard and Golden Key. He is also a life member of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.