Jean Picker Firstenberg

Jean Picker Firstenberg, is an American who served as the CEO and Director of the American Film Institute from 1980 through 2007. She was the Institute's second and first female CEO. At the time of her appointment, she was an executive at the Markle Foundation.

She is the daughter of Eugene Picker, former president of Loew's movie theaters, and sister of David V. Picker, vice-president of Lorimar Films.

After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, In 1958, she attended the Boston University College of Communication, graduating summa cum laude.,

Wishing to become a sports announcer, she took a job as the assistant to the president of WMGM-AM in New York. Later, she worked for the "Democratic National Committee (1964), organized US participation in the 1965 Moscow Film Festival, later became assistant producer of public affairs television programs on WRC-TV in Washington, and in 1968 joined the J. Walter Thompson Advertising. There she worked until 1972 on the relationship between TV programming and advertising revenues.Democratic National Committee (1964), organized US participation in the 1965 Moscow Film Festival, later became assistant producer of public affairs television programs on WRC-TV in Washington, and in 1968 joined the J. Walter Thompson Advertising. There she worked until 1972 on the relationship between TV programming and advertising revenues." After moving to Princeton, NJ, she joined Princeton University's communications office, eventually becoming the director She was a member of the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors from 1985 to 1991, and was the first woman to serve as Chair from 1989-1991.

The mother of Debra and Doug, she is divorced from Paul Firstenberg, an executive at the Children's Television Workshop.

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