The Green-Wood Cemetery Names Meera Joshi as President

The Green-Wood Cemetery Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Meera Joshi, starting this July, as its next president. After an extensive search, the Board selected Joshi based on her exceptional leadership, deep management skills, and comprehensive understanding of how to navigate complex urban challenges.

“We are thrilled to welcome Meera Joshi as the next president of Green-Wood Cemetery. She brings great leadership, vast operational experience, and a thorough understanding of the inner workings of New York City,” said Peter Davidson, Chair of Green-Wood’s Board of Trustees. “Green-Wood is one of the oldest and largest green spaces in the city and plays a pivotal role in supporting a sustainable environment, and we are confident that under Meera’s leadership, our commitment to preserving our urban green space will grow even stronger. As a place of sacred remembrance, learning and artistic exploration, Green-Wood will continue to thrive with Meera at the helm.”

Joshi brings more than two decades of public service and executive leadership to Green-Wood. Most recently, she served as Deputy Mayor for Operations for the City of New York, where she oversaw and evolved the City’s vast infrastructure, leading novel resilience work to protect our city from excessive heat and rains for generations. Previously, she led critical regulatory agencies: at USDOT, she oversaw regulation of interstate trucking, and in New York City, as Commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, she heralded in the era of data-informed regulation and established the first-ever pay standard for drivers.

“It is an honor to join the amazing Green-Wood team as we together write the next chapter of this magical institution’s history. From the over 570,000 New York stories of Green-Wood’s residents to the most unique natural green public space in New York City, Green-Wood offers serenity, beauty and adventure for all—a true city and national public gem that everyone, especially, true New Yorkers, must visit,” Meera Joshi said. “After two decades devoting my career to improving the lives of New Yorkers, I am thrilled to continue serving our city through the further growth of Green-Wood as a hub for climate resilience, culture, restoration, education, public space and a final resting place. Green-Wood holds our city’s history and our future. I look forward to vigilantly protecting and championing both, and I am grateful to my predecessor, Richard J. Moylan, for his vision, passion, and warm welcome.”

Joshi succeeds Richard J. Moylan, who is retiring after nearly 40 years of transformative leadership. Under Moylan’s stewardship, Green-Wood has experienced a renaissance—being named a National Historic Landmark, restoring its historic grounds, achieving international accreditation as an arboretum, expanding its public programming, and welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

“Through my 39 years at Green-Wood, I have been immensely proud to help this incredible place grow, thrive, and connect with new audiences,” said outgoing President Richard J. Moylan, who will step down at the end of June 2025. “I could not be more confident in our staff and their unwavering passion for Green-Wood. I am proud and optimistic about this institution's future under Meera's skilled leadership.”

Throughout his nearly four decades as President of Green-Wood, Richard J. Moylan has been the driving force behind the institution’s transformation into a vibrant cultural and educational destination, as well as a national leader in the preservation of historic green spaces. As the capstone of his transformational leadership, he has overseen the creation of The Green-Wood Welcome Center, which will open in 2026 and stand as a testament to his vision for making Green-Wood’s history, nature, and art accessible to all.

Green-Wood has welcomed the public since it first opened in 1838 as part of the Rural Cemetery Movement, which saw cemeteries as places for both remembrance and community. That spirit is very much alive today. Each year, visitors come to Green-Wood to explore its storied landscape, participate in educational programs, enjoy art, and find moments of reflection. It is a dynamic space for Brooklyn neighbors and visitors from across the city and beyond—a place to walk, learn, and connect.

Established in 1838, The Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, is recognized as one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries. As the permanent residence of over 570,000 individuals, Green-Wood’s magnificent grounds, grand architecture, and world-class statuary have made it a destination for half a million visitors annually, including national and international tourists, New Yorkers, and Brooklynites. At the same time, Green-Wood is also an outdoor museum, an arboretum, and a repository of history. Throughout the year, it offers innovative programs in arts and culture, nature and the environment, education, workforce development, restoration, and research, as well as bold initiatives in climate resiliency and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.green-wood.com.