Derek Rapp
Chief Operating Officer
Derek Rapp is Chief Operating Officer, where he brings strategic vision and operational discipline to the Center's mission. He joins the Danforth Center with more than four decades of executive leadership spanning nonprofit management, life sciences, and venture capital. Prior to joining the Center in 2026, Derek served as a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners. Previously, he was president and CEO of JDRF International (now Breakthrough T1D). His career also includes multiple leadership roles at Monsanto Company and a successful tenure as CEO of Divergence, Inc., a life sciences startup he led through acquisition. A St. Louis native, Derek holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and an AB from Brown University.
