Marilyn Simons and the Simons Foundation
Marilyn Simons co-founded the Simons Foundation in 1994 and is its chair; she also chairs Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 34.
Full nameMarilyn Hawrys Simons
NationalityUnited States
Known forCo-founder and chair of the Simons Foundation; widow of Jim Simons
Marilyn Simons's roles
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| Simons Foundation | Co-founder (1994), president until July 2021, now chair of the board of trustees |
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | Chair of the board of trustees |
| Turkana Basin Institute, LearningSpring School, East Harlem Scholars Academies | Board member |
| Stony Brook Women's Leadership Council | Founder and chair |
| MJS Foundation | Oversees the family foundation in New York |
Simons Foundation
Its mission is to advance the frontiers of research in math and science. Under her leadership it grew into one of the world's largest private funders of scientific research 345.
Other trusteeships
She is a trustee of the National Museum of Mathematics, Rockefeller University, the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute and, since 2024, the Stony Brook Foundation 3.
Renaissance Technologies
Her wealth is linked to the hedge fund Jim Simons founded in 1978. The sources reviewed do not list an operating role for her there 7.
Frequently asked questions
She co-founded it in 1994 with Jim Simons, was president until July 2021 and is chair of its board of trustees.
The sources reviewed do not list an operating role for her. Her wealth is tied to the fund her late husband founded.
Sources✓ Verified 14 Nov 2026
1 Simons Foundation, Marilyn Simons, 1 Jan 1970, Roles
2 Simons Foundation, Simons Foundation Co-Founder and Chair Marilyn Simons Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 29 Apr 2024, Foundation leadership
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