Punahou School is proud to welcome Elizabeth Yee ’94 to its Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2025. A globally respected leader in impact philanthropy, economic development, and climate resilience, Yee brings deep strategic expertise and a lifelong connection to Punahou and Hawai‘i.
Yee currently serves as Executive Vice President of Programs at The Rockefeller Foundation, where she oversees the Foundation’s global programs, regional offices, partnerships and learning and impact efforts. She leads the advancement of the Foundation’s strategic priorities, focusing on building resilient communities through renewable energy, sustainable food systems, stronger health systems, and inclusive finance solutions that benefit underserved populations. She held executive leadership roles at 100 Resilient Cities, a project pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation to help cities around the world build resilience to physical, social, and economic challenges, and spent over 15 years in public and infrastructure finance.
“I’m deeply grateful to welcome Liz to the Punahou Board of Trustees,” said President Mike Latham ’86. “Her extraordinary leadership in global philanthropy, systems change, and climate innovation is matched by her devotion to Hawai‘i and alignment with Punahou’s core values. She brings a powerful global perspective that will help us strengthen our mission to graduate students who lead with purpose, empathy, and a commitment to creating positive impact in the world.”
A proud Punahou graduate, Yee recalls childhood memories of playing on Barwick playground, sharing lunches with friends outside Alexander Hall, and dancing in Holokū, experiences which instilled in her a deep sense of connection and community. “Punahou taught me that the world is so much bigger than myself,” Yee said. “What I see in my classmates, and even in the next generation of their children, is a shared value system – critical thinking, compassion, social responsibility. That is what brings us together, no matter where we are in the world.”
In addition to her work at The Rockefeller Foundation, Yee serves on the Board of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), which advances access to affordable and clean energy, and on the advisory boards for Co-Impact’s Foundational Fund and Gender Fund. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Yee sees strong alignment between her life’s work and Punahou’s vision. “Punahou challenges its students not just to succeed academically, but to imagine and shape the world they want to live in,” she said. “The opportunity to support that vision – one that connects Hawai‘i to the world and brings global challenges into the heart of education – is why I’m honored to serve. I’m excited to learn from others on the Board and to bring insights from my work back to the school and community that shaped me.”
Board Chair Wendy Crabb shared her enthusiasm about the appointment. “Liz brings both vast expertise and a generous spirit of service to her work,” said Crabb. “Her strategic perspective on innovation and social responsibility – and her unwavering connection to Hawai‘i – make her an extraordinary addition to our Board. We are honored to have her vision and partnership as we continue to advance Punahou’s mission.”
Yee’s work is increasingly driven by the intersection of education, innovation and opportunity – creating a future where all people can thrive. “This is a moment for all of us to come together – to imagine and build solutions that put people at the center and elevate education as a catalyst for positive change,” she said. “Punahou has a unique opportunity to empower the next generation to lead with vision, courage and purpose in a constantly evolving world.”
Yee and her husband, Ted Coons, are the proud parents of a middle schooler and a high schooler. She will officially join the Punahou Board of Trustees on July 1, 2025.
