"Philanthropy and America's Future" Berresford was elected president of the Ford Foundation effective April 3, 1996. At the time of her election as president, Berresford was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the foundation. Berresford joined the Ford Foundation in 1970 as a project assistant in the Division of National Affairs. Between 1972 and 1980 she served as a program officer in that division. In 1980 she was named officer in charge of the foundation's women's programs. She became vice president for the Foundation's U.S. and International Affairs program in 1981 and subsequently served as vice president of the program division in charge of worldwide programming for the foundation from 1989. Before joining the foundation, Berresford served as a program officer for the Neighborhood Youth Corps from 1965 to 1967. In 1967-68, she worked for the Manpower Career Development Agency, where she was responsible for the evaluation of training, education and work programs. Berresford attended Vassar College and then studied American history at Radcliffe College, where she graduated cum laude in 1965.