In Memoriam: Catherine Ann Pierre, 1970-2023

Catherine Pierre director of communications for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and a longtime communications professional within the university, died on October 27 at her home in Butchers Hill, Baltimore. She was 53 years old.

A native of Baltimore, Pierre earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Maryland College Park and a master’s in English at Indiana University Bloomington.

Early in her career, Pierre served as copy chief, then arts editor, then associate editor at Baltimore magazine, and then manager of public relations at The Walters Art Museum. Pierre arrived at Hopkins in 2003 as associate editor of Johns Hopkins Magazine, becoming its editor in 2007. She then served as editorial director of the university’s central communications office, interim vice president for communications, director of communications, and senior director of integrated marketing.

Pierre joined the SNF Agora Institute in 2019. The institute is a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiry that leads to real-world change. Her work there included co-creating the institute’s signature conferences in Greece; local programs including the annual Elijah E. Cummings Democracy and Freedom Festival; and a series of case studies designed to help practitioners deepen skills, develop insights about strategic choices and dilemmas, and collaborate more effectively.