{{Short description|American business executive (born 1956)}} {{Infobox person | name = Dawn Hudson | image = Dawn Hudson on RealTVfilms.jpg | caption = Hudson in 2009 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|01|04}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/dec/19/dawn-ann-hudson/ | title=HIGH PROFILE: Dawn Ann Hudson CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | date=19 December 2021 }}</ref> | birth_place = Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | other_names = | known_for = CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (2011-2022) | education = Harvard University <br> Washington University in St. Louis <br> Grenoble Institute of Political Studies <br> Antioch University Los Angeles | alma mater = | employer = | occupation = {{flatlist| *Film industry executive}} | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = | children = | parents = | relatives = }} '''Dawn Hudson''' (born January 4, 1956) is an American film industry executive. She notably served as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2011 to 2022. Earlier in her career, she was executive director of ''Film Independent''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Idemenko |first=Yulia |date=2018-02-21 |title=Dawn Hudson: Changing Hollywood's Old Boy Network |url=https://www.eastwestbank.com/ReachFurther/en/News/Article/Dawn-Hudson-Changing-Hollywoods-Old-Boy-Network |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=EastWestBank |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Dawn Hudson was born in 1956 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-20 |title=Did departing academy chief Dawn Hudson ruin the Oscars — or save them? |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-07-20/dawn-hudson-film-academy-tenure-feature |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> She graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1973. She went on to attend Harvard University, where she studied government.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Clancy |first=Sean |date=2021-12-19 |title=HIGH PROFILE: Dawn Ann Hudson CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences {{!}} Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/dec/19/dawn-ann-hudson/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |language=en}}</ref>
She attended graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis and the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies in Grenoble, France.<ref name="arkansasonline.com">{{Cite web |date=2021-12-19 |title=HIGH PROFILE: Dawn Ann Hudson CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/dec/19/dawn-ann-hudson/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Arkansas Online |language=en}}</ref> She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles.
==Career== Early in her career, Hudson served as the editor-in-chief of ''St. Louis'' magazine,<ref name=":1" /> acted in several film and television roles,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawn Hudson: Movies, TV, and Bio |url=https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Dawn-Hudson/amzn1.dv.gti.c7270301-2741-470b-bd7e-6304906aa44c |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.amazon.com}}</ref> and was a freelance writer. She left St. Louis in 1989 to move to Los Angeles.<ref name=":3" />
=== Film Independent (1991-2011) === Hudson served as the executive director of ''Film Independent'' for twenty years, which she helped to build from a small non-profit to a widely respected viable arts institution. Under her leadership, Film Independent developed a sustaining program of workshops for independent filmmakers from all backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pond |first=Steve |date=2011-04-18 |title=So, How Does Film Independent Survive Without Dawn Hudson? |url=https://www.thewrap.com/film-independent-begins-search-new-leader-26522/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> She also helped expand the organization's membership, produced the Spirit Awards,<ref name="arkansasonline.com" /> and the Los Angeles Film Festival.<ref name="latimesfilmacademy">{{cite news |last1=Keegan |first1=Rebecca |date=May 6, 2014 |title=Film academy to consider CEO Dawn Hudson's contract |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-academy-dawn-hudson-20140506-story.html |access-date=January 31, 2016 |work=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
=== CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (2011-2022)=== In 2011, Hudson became the first person to hold the role of chief executive officer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Cieply |first=Michael |date=2011-10-30 |title=For the Academy's New Chief, a Balancing Act |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/business/media/dawn-hudsons-new-job-as-the-academys-chief-is-a-balancing-act.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As CEO, Dawn Hudson oversaw the academy's 450-person staff in Los Angeles, New York, and London, as well as operations, awards (including the Oscars), membership,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Rottenberg |first=Josh |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Film Academy reaches 2020 diversity goals established after #OscarsSoWhite |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-06-30/film-academy-new-members-2020-diversity-goals |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> marketing, communications, finance, technology, and the Academy Foundation. The Foundation includes educational initiatives, fellowships and grants, the Margaret Herrick Library<ref>{{Cite web |title=Margaret Herrick Library {{!}} Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.oscars.org/library |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en}}</ref> and the Academy Film Archive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy Film Archive {{!}} Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.oscars.org/film-archive |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawn Hudson: Changing Hollywood's Old Boy Network |url=https://www.eastwestbank.com/ReachFurther/en/News/Article/Dawn-Hudson-Changing-Hollywoods-Old-Boy-Network |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.eastwestbank.com |language=en}}</ref>
From the beginning of her tenure in 2011, Hudson led the development and creation of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, a 300,000 square-foot museum designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-12 |title=Hollywood finally has its movie museum. Inside the dramatic journey and what's at risk |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-09-12/academy-movie-museum-history-finances |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The Academy Museum features 50,000 square feet of exhibition space and two state-of-the-art theaters (the 1,000-seat David Geffen Theater and the 288-seat Ted Mann Theater).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy Museum |url=https://www.academymuseum.org/en/about |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.academymuseum.org}}</ref> The museum opened to the public in September 2021 and is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts and sciences of moviemaking.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2021-09-21 |title=The Academy Museum Hailed as 'Instant Landmark' on Opening Day by President Bill Kramer |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/academy-museum-opening-1235070259/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Hudson was a member of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Board of Trustees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy Museum Names New Board of Trustees {{!}} Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/academy-museum-names-new-board-trustees-1064573 |access-date=2020-08-31 |website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=5 December 2017 }}</ref>
With Hudson at the helm building and overseeing its financial assets, the academy's assets more than tripled from $258 million to $894 million.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to the Oscars, the academy became more accessible to its members and people around the world through the modernization of its infrastructure and online outreach. Hudson prioritized developments in technology and the modernization of its infrastructure which enabled greater global outreach, increased member communications and events, online voting, and streaming on the academy's proprietary streaming service, the Academy Screening Room, as well as an exponentially expanded social media presence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=2021-10-18 |title=Dawn Hudson To Exit Motion Picture Academy CEO Post At End Of Current Term |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/dawn-hudson-leaving-motion-picture-academy-oscars-1234857397/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
Since the beginning of her tenure at the academy, Hudson drove significant representation, inclusion, and equity initiatives across Academy membership, governance, and staff. As a result, the academy grew into an increasingly diverse, global community of artists and filmmakers. Under Hudson, the academy exceeded its initial goals for increasing representation in membership by 2020.<ref name=":2" /> Hudson said of the expansion of the Academy:<ref>{{Cite web |last=McNamara |first=Mary |date=2019-07-04 |title=Column: Academy CEO Dawn Hudson on 8 years of trying to modernize a 92-year-old boys' club |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-mn-dawn-hudson-academy-oscars-diversity-museum-20190704-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><blockquote>"Everyone in this institution understands the legacy of the Oscar. The academy grew up around a cozy club that was the center of the universe, and it was wonderful — if you were part of that club. We are still an exclusive club, we’re just not an exclusionary club.” </blockquote>Following this success, the academy launched Aperture 2025, establishing inclusion standards for Oscars® eligibility to further the academy's efforts to advance representation in the entertainment industry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-08 |title=ACADEMY ESTABLISHES REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION STANDARDS FOR OSCARS® ELIGIBILITY {{!}} Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-establishes-representation-and-inclusion-standards-oscarsr-eligibility |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en}}</ref>
She was succeeded by current chief executive officer Bill Kramer in June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=2022-06-07 |title=Academy Museum Director Bill Kramer Named New Academy CEO, Dawn Hudson Exits |url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/bill-kramer-new-academy-ceo-oscars-1235286115/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Recognition == She was named to The Hollywood Reporter's ''Women in Entertainment Power 100'' in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2015-12-09 |title=Women in Entertainment Power 100: The Industry Stewards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/women-entertainment-power-100-industry-846653/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>''Variety'' honored Hudson's efforts in its 2021 Women's Impact Report.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tangcay |first1=Andrew Barker,Randee Dawn,Shalini Dore,Karen Idelson,Selome Hailu,Paula K. Hendrickson,Zoe Hewitt,Carole Horst,Brooke Mazurek,Addie Morfoot,Lily Moayeri,Jenelle Riley,Ellise Shafer,Jasmin Rosemberg,Jazz |last2=Barker |first2=Andrew |last3=Dawn |first3=Randee |last4=Dore |first4=Shalini |last5=Idelson |first5=Karen |last6=Hailu |first6=Selome |last7=Hendrickson |first7=Paula K. |last8=Hewitt |first8=Zoe |last9=Horst |first9=Carole |date=2021-09-29 |title=Variety's Women's Impact Report 2021 |url=https://variety.com/lists/varietys-womens-impact-report-2021/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, she was listed on The Wrap's inaugural "ChangeMakers List: Women Who Saved Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-10 |title=The ChangeMakers List: 30 Women Who Saved Entertainment in 2020 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/changemakers-2020-30-women-saved-entertainment/ |access-date=2023-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>
At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Hudson was inducted as ''Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'', awarded by the Minister of Culture of the French Republic to those who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to the arts in France and around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=May 25, 2022 |title=Cannes 2022 Red Carpet: Tom Cruise, Kristen Stewart, Austin Butler, Julia Roberts, Viola Davis, and More |url=https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/cannes-2022-red-carpet-best-photos/forever-young-les-amandiers-red-carpet-the-75th-annual-cannes-film-festival/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=IndieWire}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0399813}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hudson, Dawn}} Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Hot Springs, Arkansas Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni Category:Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Category:American women chief executives Category:1956 births Category:Harvard College alumni