Timothy Shriver

Timothy Shriver is a social leader, educator, activist, film producer, and business entrepreneur. Since 1996, he has been the Chairman of Special Olympics, serving 5.3 million Special Olympics athletes and their families in 170 countries. He has led Special Olympics into a global movement focused on acceptance, inclusion, and respect for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Shriver has transformed Special Olympics, attracting millions of new athletes across the globe. His collaborative efforts with international leaders, including those from China, have further boosted the program's reach, highlighted by the 2007 Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai. Furthermore, he has worked tirelessly in developing or war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Iraq to foster the growth of Special Olympics.

In addition to his role at Special Olympics, Shriver is the founder of UNITE and a member of the Kennedy family. He has created numerous programs under Special Olympics focusing on athlete leadership, cross-cultural research, health, education, and family support. His legislative work has garnered increased government support for issues concerning the Special Olympics community.

Shriver has utilized his film production skills to promote the narratives of inspiration and change. He has co-produced several notable films and television shows, as well as made broadcast appearances on various networks. He continues to use his platform to share stories of the Special Olympics and its athletes.

Before his tenure at Special Olympics, Shriver was and continues to be a leading educator focusing on the social and emotional factors in learning. He co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a pioneering research organization in the field of social and emotional learning. He has also written a memoir titled "Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most."

Shriver received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, a Master's degree in Religion and Religious Education from Catholic University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Connecticut. His academic accomplishments are further highlighted by receiving honorary degrees from multiple institutions such as Georgetown University, Fordham University, La Salle University, Loyola University, New England College, Albertus Magnus College, University of Connecticut, Niagara University, University of Illinois, and Villanova University.

In recognition of his work, Shriver has received numerous awards and honors, including the Medal of the City of Athens, Greece; the Order de Manuel Amador Guerrera of the Republic of Panama; the 1995 Connecticut Citizen of the Year Award; and the Presidential Medallion from the University of Illinois. He has also served on the Board of Directors of The Future Project and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His board memberships extend to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Education Commission of the States' Compact for Learning and Citizenship, The Edison Schools Incorporated, The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and HealthCorps.

Shriver and his wife, Linda Potter, reside in the Washington, D.C. area with their five children. He continues to serve as Chairman of Special Olympics and of UNESCO at IT Tralee (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and remains deeply invested in advocating for disability rights and inclusion.