The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation today announced the selection of Sonia Moldovan as vice president, strategy and program, effective January 1, 2024. Moldovan will lead all aspects of the organization’s global grantmaking and will serve as an officer of the Hilton Foundation. She will report to Foundation President and CEO Peter Laugharn.
Moldovan joined the Hilton Foundation in 2020 as first-ever director of the Foundation’s Strategy, Learning and Evaluation Division (SLED). In this role, she built and grew a team of strategy and evaluation experts whose focus is to promote learning and accountability to the Foundation’s stakeholders by developing impactful strategies, and using evidence to inform strategy adaptation.
“Sonia is a deeply skilled and accomplished leader, grant-maker and evaluation expert with diverse experience in the nonprofit, government and private sector arenas,” said Peter Laugharn, president and CEO for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. “Over the past two decades, Sonia has supported various organizations develop equitable strategies and amplify the voices of key stakeholders. Her wealth of experience, diverse knowledge across contexts, and adept understanding of evidence uniquely position her to lead our Program department.”
Since joining the Foundation, Moldovan and her team have supported the Program, Prize and Partnerships departments in designing and implementing evaluations targeted at learning from past investments and informing future priorities.
“I am deeply committed to the mission of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and thrilled to support an incredible network of global partners and a very talented team contribute meaningful change alongside the communities we are serving.”
Prior to joining the Foundation, Moldovan served as director of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) at Mercy Corps, where she directed a global portfolio and led a team of evaluation experts and software developers. Having implemented new initiatives in approximately 40 countries, Moldovan has learned that with humility, effective communication and centering local expertise anything is possible. Earlier in her career, Moldovan directed monitoring, evaluation and learning programs in Afghanistan, South Sudan and the Sahel.
Moldovan holds a master’s degree in international economic development from George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Washington. She lives in Moorpark CA, with her partner and two children, and finds joy in supporting access to resources for all school age children in her community. Additionally, she takes pleasure in hiking, reading and exploring new destinations through travel. A native of Romania, Sonia came to the United States as a refugee along with her family, an experience that profoundly influenced her professional journey.