The 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s CEO, as reported, found herself facing scrutiny despite the nonprofit’s challenges.
Before taking this role in July 2022, Elizabeth Hillman spent six years as president of Mills College, a women’s liberal arts institution in Oakland, California.
Back in 2021, she encountered issues with the college’s fiduciary, who withheld essential financial data and later sued her, accusing her of obstructing their duties amid the merger with Northeastern University in Boston.
While Hillman supported the merger, many board members opposed it.
A judge ruled in favor of these board members, mandating that Mills College disclose the financial documents they sought, yet this wasn’t enough to halt the merger.
Mills College faced significant financial strain, grappling with declining enrollment and rising operating expenditures. The merger was perceived as a way to stabilize finances by offering more resources.
Ultimately, the college ceased to operate independently after the merger was finalized in 2022, leaving behind a $38 million deficit. Hillman exited the position with a salary of $580,067, which was up 18% from the previous year.
The Post recently revealed Hillman’s increased salary and that of other executives at the Memorial Museum, despite the organization facing financial losses and disregarding pleas from victims’ families, while seemingly prioritizing other aspects.
Hillman received $856,216 in total compensation for 2024, marking a 63% increase since her start with the organization—nearly doubling that figure from the previous year.
Hillman defended the high salaries by claiming they were in line with peer organizations, though she didn’t specify which ones.
“It just feels like everything went wrong,” said Michelle Sherman, a Mills College alum.
“I mean, underground ashes? It’s hard to express without sounding harsh, but those in charge… well, there’s a special place for them,” she added.
Sherman was actively against the merger, viewing it as mishandling of the college’s resources and noting that a substantial donation of $226 million was made in 2022.
In May 2021, the faculty voted no-confidence in Hillman, calling for a change in administration due to dissatisfaction with leadership and financial decisions.
Despite these concerns, Hillman and the executives moved ahead with the merger.
“It’s disheartening for an institution with over a century of history. It doesn’t seem to contribute to preserving that legacy,” Sherman lamented. “We always felt that she was handsomely rewarded before stepping down.”
Mike Bloomberg, chair of the 9/11 Memorial Museum, defended Hillman, stating, “Beth has a remarkable background with significant institutional leadership, which is why we brought her on as president and CEO.”
Hillman chose not to comment.
