Duolingo Welcomes Gaming Industry Veteran Bonnie Ross to Board of Directors

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duolingo, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOL), the world’s leading mobile learning platform, announced today the appointment of Bonnie Ross as an independent board member.

Ms. Ross brings over 30 years of experience in the gaming industry, most recently serving as Corporate Vice President for Microsoft and Head of the Halo franchise. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in developing successful games and fostering the growth of iconic franchises.

At Microsoft, Ms. Ross played a key role in the success of the Halo franchise, overseeing its expansion into transmedia, including live-action series, novels, and consumer products. Under her leadership, Halo became a global phenomenon, generating over $6 billion in consumer spending.

Empowering Learning Through Fun

“A core principle at Duolingo is ‘make it fun’, because learning shouldn’t be boring,” said Luis von Ahn, CEO and co-founder of Duolingo. “Bonnie has deep experience in creating fun and innovative gaming experiences and building iconic global franchises. I couldn’t be happier to welcome her to our board.”

“As an enthusiastic Duolingo user, I’m inspired by the platform’s ability to make learning entertaining and engaging. It fosters a competitive and social learning environment and challenges me to keep making daily progress, particularly in my quest to impress Lily,” said Ms. Ross. “I’m eager to contribute to Duolingo’s mission of making high-quality education fun and available to everyone.”

Ms. Ross’s impressive career at Microsoft also includes the development or publication of top titles such as Zoo Tycoon, Mass Effect, and Gears of War. She was inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame in 2019 for her contributions to the gaming industry, as well as her efforts to promote STEM learning and diversity through her work with the Women in Gaming community. She currently serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Natural Sciences at Colorado State University.

About Duolingo

Duolingo is the world’s leading mobile learning platform, recognized for its innovative and engaging approach to language education. With a global user base, Duolingo’s flagship app is the top-grossing education app on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. Committed to making high-quality education accessible to everyone, Duolingo continues to develop cutting-edge learning technologies that make language acquisition fun and effective.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at