The Hyde Park Institute is led by Jim Palos, who serves as its executive director. Palos is a seasoned chief executive of educational and nonprofit organizations. He operated a consulting firm advising educational and nonprofit institutions in strategy, operations, and organic growth. Palos served as president of Wright College, a community college with 14,500 students. He previously founded and served as the first president of the Institute for Media and Entertainment (now a part of IESE Business School). Palos earlier founded and served as the first president of the Latino Education Alliance, and directed the Midtown Educational Foundation. Palos received his BA from Columbia University and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.