Introducing Our New Executive Director

The Institute for Family Studies is delighted to announce that Michael Toscano will serve as our new Executive Director. He will be stepping into outgoing IFS president Richard Brake’s big shoes later this month.

Michael comes to IFS from The Kings College, his alma mater, where he served as Director of Development, Foundations and as a member of the president’s cabinet. While there, he launched the Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program, the King's College Liberal Arts Symposia, and the Meraki Program in Faith and Finance. He also collaborated on events and panels with the James Madison Program, Socrates in the City, and the Russell Kirk Center, and helped develop the college’s overarching advancement strategy.

Prior to this, Michael was Development Officer, Policy Initiatives for the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, where he oversaw the organization's general operations fundraising, as well as supported its specialized social science projects and research fellows. His annual portfolio alone encompassed several million dollars in projects and operations. 

He also previously served as a research fellow at the National Association of Scholars (NAS) and then as Director of Research Projects. His signal achievement at NAS was the report, "What Does Bowdoin Teach? How a Liberal Arts College Shapes Students," which he co-wrote with president Peter Wood. Writing in the Claremont Review of Books, Harvard University professor of government Harvey Mansfield described the report as “the first of its kind and probably destined to be the best.” The report was covered in the Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, National Review, Chronicle of Higher Education, Bloomberg, and many other outlets.

Lastly, and most importantly, Michael is husband to Rebecca and the proud father of Lillian, who is just under two months old. He and his family will be moving to Charlottesville in February. 

“My standard as Executive Director of the Institute for Family Studies will be personal and organizational excellence on behalf of marriage and family in America today and in service of our board, supporters, constituents, collaborators, fellows, and staff,” Michael says. “Our cause is crucial, and the challenge is great. I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with and serve you in the years to come.”

Please join us in welcoming Michael Toscano to the IFS family!