Lyric Opera of Chicago announces Jennifer Elaine Boyd as the new Vice President of People & Culture

CHICAGO (9/14/2022) – The Leadership team at Lyric Opera of Chicago is pleased to announce that Jennifer Elaine Boyd will join the company as its new Vice President of People & Culture. Boyd comes to Lyric as the next step in a successful career as a senior human resources executive and consultant. She has worked with several significant nonprofit organizations, including YMCA of the USA and After School Matters.

"Jennifer Elaine Boyd’s extensive experience is sure to advance Lyric’s goals, for this department and for the company. Through her commitment to promoting a culture of inclusion and the advancement of Lyric’s mission, Jennifer will be an integral force in the company’s future," says Roberta Lane, Lyric’s chief financial and administrative officer. "Jennifer is already well-versed in human resources within the nonprofit sector, with both corporate and arts organizations being a part of her work history. Her dedication to serving communities aligns with Lyric’s tradition of engaging audiences through the power of opera. Her 15-year career will further enrich our connection to the city and our employees."

A self-described champion of people, Boyd’s impressive career includes substantial experience with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where she managed talent acquisition and HR operations for the organization's more than 30 extension sites and its roughly 5,000 employees. At YMCA of the USA she became the Senior Director of Talent Acquisition and Employee Engagement, managing nationwide recruitment and leading employee engagement during her tenure. Prior to joining Lyric, she held the role of Director of Human Resources for After School Matters, a non-profit organization that provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens each year. Her career has also included collaborations with the University of Chicago, Boston Consulting Group, and many other significant partner organizations. She holds an MBA in human resources management and a bachelor’s degree in management from Robert Morris University in Illinois.

The nationwide search for Lyric's new Vice President of People & Culture was conducted by Koya Partners. Boyd begins her new role on October 10, 2022.

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is where the world sings — and where Chicago comes alive.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric stands at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic purpose, harnessing the full power of opera — voice, orchestra, stagecraft, and story — to illuminate the questions, emotions, and experiences that define us as human beings. Nearly 75 seasons of world-class performances have made Lyric one of the greatest opera companies in the world. What drives us now is what has always driven us: the belief that this art form, at its best, can move people in ways nothing else can.

Lyric is also Chicago’s partner — in its neighborhoods, its schools, and its communities — through education, engagement, and a relentless commitment to making opera accessible, relevant, and irresistible to everyone. At the heart of that commitment is The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, which trains the artists who will carry this art form into its future. Every night when the curtain rises, Lyric reminds this city — and the world — why live performance still matters.

Lyric Opera of Chicago doesn’t just present opera, it redefines what opera can be. It’s where Chicago comes to be moved, inspired, and connected.

Join us @LyricOpera on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook. #WhereChicagoSings