Lynette Howell Taylor Re-Elected Academy President, Guiding Oscars Body Toward Centennial

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will head toward its 100th anniversary under the continued leadership of Lynette Howell Taylor, whom the Board of Governors re-elected president on Wednesday for the 2026–2027 term. Howell Taylor’s return was made possible by a rule the Board of Governors adopted earlier this year. Under the Academy’s standard term limits, governors may serve two consecutive three-year terms and must then take a two-year hiatus.

Howell Taylor completed her second governor term this year, which would have barred her from running for president again. The new provision, however, allows a sitting president to seek re-election even after terming off the board; if elected, the president becomes an ex officio voting member of the board until the presidential term concludes. Academy rules permit a president to serve up to four consecutive one-year terms.

Several recent presidents were unable to reach that maximum because of the old term-limit conflict. Howell Taylor becomes the first to be elected and serve as an ex officio board member under the revised rule, and her addition brings the board to a record 61 members. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer said, “We are so deeply grateful to Lynette, Lesley, David, Jennifer, Lou and Howard for their commitment to the Academy and to our global film community. As we move toward our 100th anniversary, I am excited to continue our vital work with the Board and these exceptional Board officers to support our members, the industry and the Academy’s mission and programs.”

Alongside Howell Taylor, the board elected five other officers for 2026–2027. Lesley Barber of the Music Branch returns as vice president and chair of the Membership Committee. David Dinerstein, from the Marketing and Public Relations Branch, takes on his first officer role as vice president/treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.

Jennifer Fox (Producers Branch) was re-elected vice president and chair of the Awards Committee, Lou Diamond Phillips (Actors Branch) returns as vice president and chair of the Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Howard A. Rodman (Writers Branch) was re-elected vice president/secretary and chair of the Governance Committee. Howell Taylor has been a member of the Academy’s Producers Branch since 2014 and has produced more than 25 films over two decades. Her credits include “A Star Is Born,” which earned eight Oscar nominations and brought her a Best Picture nomination in 2019, as well as “Captain Fantastic,” “Big Eyes,” “The Place Beyond the Pines,” “Blue Valentine,” and “Half Nelson.”

She also co-produced the 92nd Oscars telecast in 2020 with Stephanie Allain, receiving an Emmy nomination for the show.