Peggy Rajski

Oscar-winning filmmaker and philanthropic leader

Peggy Rajski (she/her) is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, professor, LGBTQ+ ally/activist and philanthropic leader.  A feature film producer for the majority of her career, Rajski turned to directing for the short film Trevor (1994), a poignant comedy about a young teen whose world is turned upside down when word spreads at school that he might be gay, and his thoughts turn toward suicide.  Trevor went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short, and in 1998, the film’s success led Rajski to envision and co-found The Trevor Project, a lifesaving nonprofit organization that is the world’s largest leading provider of 24/7 crisis intervention services and suicide prevention programs for LGBTQ+ young people.  She has steadily served on the Board of Directors throughout the organization’s 25+ year history.

Over the course of her film career, Rajski produced multiple award-winning feature films, served as the Dean of LMU’s top 10-ranked School of Film and Television, was appointed the inaugural head of studies for NYU Graduate Film’s nascent creative producing program and tasked with developing its curriculum, and has taught master classes and workshops on producing and pitching in the U.S. and abroad.  

She is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Film Independent, and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). At AMPAS, she has served as Chair of its Student Academy Awards Committee, a Producers Branch Executive Committee member, and Nicholls Fellowship in Screenwriting judge.  She is a former board member of IFP/West and NY Women in Film and TV.

From  November 2022-July 2024, she stepped into the role of Interim CEO at The Trevor Project to help steward the now 500+ person organization’s  transition to a new chapter. Her goal from founding day to today is ensuring Trevor thrives as a vital industry-leading lifesaving resource for LGBTQ+ young people, helping them see a brighter future for themselves.