Lilian Coral Joins New America as Head of Open Technology Institute, and Technology and Democracy Programs

Lilian Coral, an experienced public interest and technology leader, has joined New America as Senior Director of the Open Technology Institute (OTI) and Head of New America’s Technology and Democracy Programs. Coral will oversee New America’s work on a broad range of issues at the intersection of technology and democracy at a time when digital equity, privacy concerns, online free expression, and other key tech policy issues are at the forefront of US public debate. Coral served most recently as Director of National Strategy and Tech Innovation at the John S. & James L. Knight Foundation, managing a portfolio of more than $55 million in investments supporting innovations in data accessibility and trust, urban mobility, and technology in public spaces as part of the foundation’s resident-centered technology strategy. Prior to the Knight Foundation, Coral was Chief Data Officer for the City of Los Angeles. Appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, she led an effort to increase transparency and use open data to promote greater equity and opportunity for all of Los Angeles’ residents. Coral was also the founding Director of 2-1-1 California, a network of 26 organizations helping 33 million Californians access food, housing, job training, after-school programs, and more. Coral holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine.