鈥淲e are so pleased to welcome these new members to the board and grateful for their commitment to strengthening their alma mater and enhancing the student experience,鈥� says Board Chair Jeff Scruggs. 鈥淭heir personal and professional experiences and vision will be critical to the work we do to ensure the University achieves its ambitious goals.鈥�

Chancellor Kent Syverud says he is looking forward to working with the new trustees and eliciting their diverse viewpoints. 鈥淎ll of these individuals are outstanding in their fields, and they understand the persistence and passion required to bring about positive change in an organization,鈥� says Chancellor Syverud. 鈥淭hey are role models and mentors and each, in their own way, has established a legacy of excellence and service. We will no doubt benefit from their insights.鈥�

Alonna Berry 鈥�11

Alonna Berry

Given her family history and undergraduate experiences at 黑料不打烊, Berry was destined for a career in leadership, education and service. Today, she is executive director of the , a statewide force for justice reform and community empowerment through programming and advocacy. Throughout her career, whether in politics and policy, or teaching and consulting, she has focused on using the power of education to create positive social change.

Berry a long line of educational leaders in Delaware, including a great-aunt who was the first black female superintendent in the state.

At 黑料不打烊, where she was a 2011 graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences with a major in writing and rhetoric, she was offered an opportunity to help run a GED program for inmates. Since then, her life and work have reflected a commitment to education, policy reform and transformative leadership.

After teaching English and math in public schools, Berry gained experience in public policy working in the Delaware Department of Education and was the public face of Teach for America Delaware as manager of alumni and teacher impact. Berry served as the director of Community and Family Services and senior policy advisor for Health, Equity, and Education for the Office of Governor John Carney in Delaware and was the state鈥檚 first trauma-informed care coordinator. She also served as a senior director at Social Contract, which helps organizations achieve social impact goals.

Berry founded the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence, a public charter high school dedicated to service learning, matching the needs of students with the needs of community.

Her passion for service and community was evident as an undergraduate. She was a Remembrance Scholar and active in the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, often performing at alumni events. An engaged member of the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Association, she served as chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and recently became association president.

She has held leadership roles on several boards, including The Delaware Center for Justice, The Milton Historical Society, Next Generation South, The Delaware Historical Society and Delaware Guidance Services and is active in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Berry is a doctoral candidate in organizational learning and innovation at Wilmington University, holds a post-graduate certificate in virtual online teaching and learning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a graduate degree in management and organizational leadership from Wilmington University.

She lives in Milton, Delaware, with her husband, Benjamin Spears, and son, Malkemus.

Jonathan Resnick 鈥�89

Jonathan Resnick

As president of Jack Resnick & Sons, Resnick understands what it means to uphold and advance a legacy. For nearly a century, the company has been a major force in the dynamic Manhattan real estate market. Joining the company in 1996 and becoming its president in 2007, Resnick oversees the firm鈥檚 portfolio of more than five million square feet of commercial, office and retail space, and approximately 900 high-rise luxury rental apartments.

Resnick learned the business from his father, Burton, who learned it from his father and company founder, Jack, who learned from , Israel, who owned brownstones in Harlem.

The Resnick family firm is highly respected in the industry, from ground-up development, construction, leasing and management, earning awards for sustainability and energy efficiency, and credited with revitalizing urban landscapes.

Resnick helped to honor the legacy of a former 黑料不打烊 fundraising executive by establishing a scholarship in 2021 in memory of Tom Walsh. Walsh had spent much of his career raising funds to position the University for growth. The creative writing scholarship strengthened the study of arts and literature in the creative writing undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Resnick has actively supported other 黑料不打烊 fundraising efforts as well, including Hillel and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and was heavily involved in construction of the Fisher Center in New York City.

Resnick serves as chair of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations in New York City, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate Board of New York. He is a director of the New York Building Congress, and a former chairman of the Greater New York Construction User Council. He is a board member of the Borough of Manhattan Community College Foundation, RiverSpring Health Plans (the managed care arm of RiverSpring Living) and the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

Resnick graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 1989 with a B.S. in producing for electronic media from the Newhouse School.

He lives in Harrison, New York, with his wife, Joelle, and two children.

Frank Ryan IV 鈥�90, L鈥�94

undergraduate student-athlete who earned a four year varsity letter to magna cum laude Order of the Coif graduate from the College of Law, Ryan says 黑料不打烊 . Today, Ryan is global co-chair, global co-CEO and Americas chair at DLA Piper, a global law firm with more than $4 billion in revenues and offices in more than 40 countries.

Known as a go-to strategist for some of the world鈥檚 most sophisticated media and sports companies, including Disney, ABC, the Pac-12 and ESPN, Ryan helped lead the firm through a period of unprecedented growth. He is also founding chair of the firm鈥檚 scholarship programs established to assist student athletes and veterans wishing to pursue a legal career.

Ryan joined the firm in 2010 as a partner, U.S. co-chair of the intellectual property and technology practice, and deputy chair of the media, sport and entertainment sector. He was instrumental in strengthening the firm鈥檚 growth in technology, life sciences and health care sectors and launching artificial intelligence, health care policy consulting and space exploration practices. Before DLA Piper, he spent nearly 16 years at Nixon Peabody LLP where he was partner and chair of the firm鈥檚 litigation practice.

He is a member of the Legal Service Corporation’s Leaders Council, the nation鈥檚 largest funder of civil legal aid programs for low-income people, and on the Board of Directors for Beat the Streets NYC. He is also a member of The Wall Street Journal CEO Council and Thomson Reuters’ Global Strategy Board.

Ryan graduated with a B.S. in finance from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in 1990, though he often calls wrestling his major undergraduate pursuit and was a three-time team captain of the 黑料不打烊 Wrestling Team.

Ryan has served on the College of Law鈥檚 Board of Advisors since 2004.听He is a former member of the College Law Board of Visitors (1998-2003), the College of Law Associates Council (1998-2016), and in 2017, was awarded 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Law Distinguished Service Award.

He and his wife, Melissa M. Dunne-Ryan 鈥�90, L鈥�94, have three adult children, Zach, Sean and Will 鈥�26 (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/College of Arts and Sciences).

Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� Mankoff 鈥�66, influential cartoonist with a decades-long career as cartoon contributor and editor at The New Yorker; Ali Meders-Knight, executive director of California Open Lands and Mechoopda tribal member; and Judith Greenberg Seinfeld 鈥�56, 黑料不打烊 life trustee and president of Heritage Management Co., will be honored for their outstanding achievements in their professional careers and the contributions they have made to society in significant and meaningful ways.

Robert Mankoff 鈥�66
Doctor of Letters

Robert Mankoff

Mankoff is a distinguished cartoonist whose sketches reveal a deep, insightful knowledge of the human experience and societal issues, all played with a satirical wit. Through his expansive body of work, he has explored cultural trends to craft cartoons that are thought-provoking and have brought smiles and laughter to generations. Along with his decades-long career as contributor and editor with The New Yorker, his published works have been featured in prominent publications, including The New York Times, Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Mankoff attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art before choosing 黑料不打烊, where he earned a psychology degree in 1966 from the College of Arts and Sciences. He briefly pursued doctoral studies before focusing on cartooning.

His creativity and persistence paid off after submitting about 2,000 cartoons to The New Yorker. He then embarked on a long career with the magazine, contributing nearly 1,000 cartoons. His most famous (and the best-selling New Yorker cartoon of all time) was of a harried businessman at his desk on the phone, telling the person on the line: 鈥淣o, Thursday鈥檚 out. How about never鈥攊s never good for you?鈥� He later went on to serve as The New Yorker鈥檚 cartoon editor for 20 years, editing thousands of cartoons and nurturing emerging talent and fostering a new generation of cartoonists.

His innovative work at The New Yorker also included new features, such as the cartoon caption contest, and the integration of digital media to the magazine鈥檚 cartooning landscape. He pioneered the archival digitalization of single panel cartoon art both at The New Yorker Cartoon Bank and as co-founder and president of Cartoon Collections/Cartoonstock.com, which archives and licenses the work of cartoon artists. He continues to innovate in the time of artificial intelligence, and his masterful approach to humor and creativity has been part of his time lecturing, on TED Talks and through articles, including a piece for The Atlantic, 鈥淎 Bot Walks Into A Bar.鈥�

Following his time at The New Yorker, Mankoff was cartoon editor at Esquire and is currently the cartoon editor at the online newsletter Air Mail. He co-runs Botnik Studios, a network of writers, artists and programmers who create software that augments human creativity with big data analytics, and has authored several books, including his New York Times bestselling memoir 鈥淗ow About Never鈥擨s Never Good For You?: My Life in Cartoons.鈥�

Mankoff will also deliver the alumni keynote address at the 2025 College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell School undergraduate convocation on Saturday, May 10.

Ali Meders-Knight
Doctor of Humane Letters

Ali Meders-Knight

Meders-Knight, a Mechoopda tribal member, is committed to healing the land and restoring its ecosystems through traditional Indigenous knowledge in collaboration with community, government and organizations鈥攖o sustain thriving communities.

As the executive director of California Open Lands, she works to form partnerships for federal forest stewardship contracting and tribal restoration programs on public lands. California Open Lands seeks to enhance and preserve natural resources in the conservation of Northern California鈥檚 flora and fauna, including the restoration and cultivation of California native plants using Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and to foster ways people can connect with the natural resources and open lands.

A Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) practitioner for 20-plus years, Meders-Knight has collaborated on environmental education and land restoration projects with, among others, California State University, Chico; the City of Chico, California; and Tehama County Resource Conservation District. Her work to improve social and environmental welfare through education has also included working closely with faculty, students and community partners at 黑料不打烊, Oberlin College and Conservatory, and other land management and conservation organizations, including the Traditional Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Healing in Ithaca, New York.

In 2023, she developed a partnership with Haudenosaunee leaders and environmentalists in New York through her contribution to the University鈥檚 annual Ray Smith Symposium in the Humanities, 鈥淚ndigenous Resilience, Climate Change and the Environmental Humanities.鈥� Her symposium discussion with local Indigenous leaders highlighted the relevancy of her initiatives to the ancestral Haudenosaunee homelands where the University stands.

Meders-Knight serves on the Tribal Relations Strategic Planning and Implementation committee for the U.S. Forest Service in Region 5. In March 2022 she testified to the U.S. House of Representatives Environmental Oversight Subcommittee on the merits of TEK and tribally led workforce development to restore California forest resilience and address the problem of catastrophic wildfires. In 2009, she helped plan and establish Verbena Fields, a unique 17-acre interactive food forest and interpretive park in North Chico, to educate about the rich ecological heritage of the Mechoopda people.

In 2019, she was named Environmentalist of the Year by the Butte Environmental Council for her advocacy and initiatives for wildfire recovery and Indigenous land stewardship after the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise, California, and several other communities within Mechoopda Territory. She was also a tribal instructor who taught TEK-based seed sovereignty strategies as part of the Intertribal Agriculture Council鈥檚 inaugural Intertribal Nursery Training program in partnership with University of California, Davis.

An artist and craftsperson immersed in the cultural traditions of her heritage, Meders-Knight is also a traditional basketweaver.

Judith Greenberg Seinfeld 鈥�56
Doctor of Humane Letters

Judith Greenberg Seinfeld

A leader in business and in service to others, Seinfeld has made extraordinary contributions to social causes, communities and the arts and has had a transformative impact on the University through her tireless commitment to education and improving the world.

Seinfeld is the fourth-generation head of Heritage Management Company LLC, a long-standing real estate investment, development and management company based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. She has been involved with the purchase, sale, land-use planning and financing of office and industrial properties throughout the country since 1989.

Before joining Heritage, Seinfeld, a talented photographer and jewelry designer, was the founder and president of Judith Greenberg Gallery, a jewelry design and manufacturing company. Her creations were displayed and sold at galleries throughout the U.S. from 1983-96. She was also an executive vice president at Balenciaga Perfumes International.

A longtime patron of the arts and veteran of the stage, she is the co-founder of the Nantucket Comedy Festival and the producer of several plays, including 鈥淭he Ferryman,鈥� winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Play, and 鈥淟eopoldstadt,鈥� winner of the 2023 Tony for Best Play.

Seinfeld earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the School of Education in 1956, and a master鈥檚 degree in administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1957. She was elected to the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees in 2002. In addition to her current role as a life trustee participant on the Academic Affairs and Facilities committees, Seinfeld鈥檚 service to the University includes previous positions on the boards of the School of Education and the School of Architecture.

Her leadership and financial support of 黑料不打烊 has created lasting opportunities for countless students and faculty members. She has provided lead gifts for the establishment of the Seinfeld Housing Initiative, the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Scholar Awards, the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Prize for Creative Teaching Endowment and the Judith Seinfeld Ambassador Scholar Program in the College of Professional Studies (CPS). She has supported other initiatives in CPS, the School of Architecture (including a book series on modern American housing), the School of Education, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, University Lecture Series and alumni engagement programs.

She has served as president of the Women鈥檚 Division of the Federation of Northern New Jersey; served as a board member of Human Rights Watch鈥揅hildren鈥檚 Division; was trustee of Nantucket Cottage Hospital; and served as a trustee of the Atheneum Library and the Nantucket AIDS Network.

Maloney joined 黑料不打烊 in 2024. His research focuses on the connections between quantum information theory, field theory, statistical mechanics and quantum gravity.

Chancellor Kent Syverud, Dr. Ruth Chen, Alexander Maloney, Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew and A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi pose for a group photo following Maloney’s installation as Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professor of Quantum Science.

The Walters Endowed Professorship was established through a $2.5 million gift from 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus and her husband, Stan ’72, as part of the Faculty Excellence Program supporting the recruitment and retention of high-caliber faculty.

Speakers at the installation ceremony included Interim Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer , A&S Dean and Chancellor . Maloney also spoke after receiving his medallion.

鈥淭his endowed professorship represents a bold investment in the future of discovery, and the College of Arts and Sciences is proud to be home to both this research and Professor Maloney,鈥� Mortazavi said. 鈥淭hrough his groundbreaking work, he is helping to unlock some of the most profound mysteries of nature鈥攚ork that not only deepens our understanding of the cosmos but also holds transformative potential for fields as diverse as computing, cryptography and medicine.鈥�

Maloney’s distinguished career includes serving as James McGill Professor of Physics and Sir William Macdonald Chair in Physics at McGill University, where he received the John David Jackson Award for teaching excellence. His previous positions include membership at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and research associate at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. A 2013 Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics, Maloney earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University and both his M.S. in mathematics and B.S. in physics from Stanford University.

At 黑料不打烊, Maloney will grow teaching and research in quantum science while providing students with opportunities to advance understanding of nature and design next-generation quantum technologies.

Patrick Ahearn (Photo by Randi Baird Photography)

Ahearn serves on the School of Architecture Advisory Board, is a 黑料不打烊 trustee and is a member of the 黑料不打烊 Boston Regional Council.

Ahearn is founding principal of , an award-winning Boston-based architecture firm specializing in classic American architecture for contemporary living. For over 50 years, he has designed historically motivated private residences, which have advanced the art of place-making in some of America鈥檚 most desirable and storied destinations.

From an early age, Ahearn knew he wanted to be a designer, but his first passion wasn鈥檛 architecture鈥攊t was cars. Through his fascination with automobiles, Ahearn鈥檚 initial appreciation for the power of good design and the importance of scale, proportion and light was born. And while this interest in car design sparked Ahearn鈥檚 earliest aesthetic awareness, growing up in Levittown, New York鈥攖he nation鈥檚 first planned suburb鈥攈elped him understand how good architecture and urban design could improve people鈥檚 lives and foster a true sense of community.

After earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in architecture and a master鈥檚 degree in urban design from 黑料不打烊, Ahearn began his career in Boston, teaching at Boston Architectural College and designing for the Architects Collaborative and Benjamin Thompson & Associates. He worked on waterfront revival projects in Miami and Baltimore and new-build, mixed-use hotels and urban design initiatives in Cairo and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, along with renowned adaptive reuse projects including Boston鈥檚 Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

In 1978, Ahearn founded Patrick Ahearn Architect. Over the next 20 years, he revived hundreds of historic townhouses in the then-struggling Back Bay neighborhood of Boston and reinvigorated the commercial corridor of Newbury Street. Ever mindful of scale, proportion and context, Ahearn worked carefully within zoning, conservation and community regulations to balance preservation concerns with the need to design structures that felt timeless鈥攁n enduring signature of his work today.

In the early 1990s, Ahearn expanded his practice to the community of Edgartown Village on the island of Martha鈥檚 Vineyard, where much of his professional and personal energies were devoted for the better part of the three decades that followed. He has lent his expertise to more than 350 buildings鈥�225 of them in the historic district alone鈥攔eimagining and redesigning many of Edgartown鈥檚 most notable private residences and public buildings. In the process transforming them into places and spaces for contemporary living, he has deftly blended them into the historic coastal landscape.

In the past 10 years, Ahearn鈥檚 commissions have taken him to locations farther afield, including California, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Florida. Internationally he has designed residences on Vancouver Island and in both Australia and Scotland.

No matter the location, whether reviving centuries-old, landmarked structures along the coastlines or creating new homes that reimagine the local vernacular, Ahearn demonstrates an unparalleled ability to combine the romance of traditional architecture with the ideals of modernism. Through the practice of what he calls 鈥渘arrative-driven architecture,鈥� Ahearn creates a storyline for every home he restores, renovates or builds from the ground up.

Sensitive to the original spirit of every property and its surrounding neighborhood, Ahearn鈥檚 work ranges across a broad spectrum of project types, including master planning, new construction, historic renovation and restoration. His use of rich materials, artisanal craftsmanship and period details creates buildings that are so well suited to their context that they seem to have been built in the distant past.

Perhaps most importantly, Ahearn and his firm apply the “greater good theory”鈥攁 belief that architecture has the power to improve lives, increase happiness and encourage friendly and familiar interactions鈥攖o their work. This approach allows them to create what he calls 鈥渘on-ego-driven architecture,鈥� where the success of the project is judged on its capacity to enhance the public realm rather than on the architect鈥檚 singular design intentions.

Renowned for his skill and expertise, Ahearn has received many awards, including election to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows. His work has been featured in numerous publications and broadcast outlets, including Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, HGTV and many others.

Ahearn is a registered architect in 19 states, the District of Columbia, and British Columbia, Canada, and has earned the NCARB Certificate. He is also professionally associated with the Boston Society of Architects, the Boston Architectural Center, the Boston Preservation Alliance, the National Trust for Historical Preservation, the Back Bay Neighborhood Association, the Back Bay Architectural Commission, the Town of Wellesley Planning Board, the Town of Wellesley Design Review Board and is a former Chairman of the Board of the Martha鈥檚 Vineyard Preservation Trust.

He has taught at the Boston Architectural College, the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, the Rhode Island School of Design, and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 own School of Architecture.

Patrick Ahearn鈥檚 acclaimed monograph, “,” was published in 2018 and is in its seventh printing. His second published book, “,” was published in 2023 and details the architectural process that transformed an historic seaside hotel into a gracious bayfront estate.

In business, Daniel A. D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20, can only be considered an icon, and much of his success is rooted in his respect for the U.S. military and his education at 黑料不打烊. The is proud to announce听that this devoted alumnus, 黑料不打烊 life trustee and generous supporter will address the Whitman Class of 2025 at this year鈥檚 Convocation.

D’Aniello is co-founder and chair emeritus of the private equity firm, The Carlyle Group, established in 1987. Prior to that, his career included positions as vice president for finance and development at Marriott Corporation and financial officer at both PepsiCo, Inc., and Transworld Airlines (TWA).

A member of Beta Gamma Sigma, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 business fraternity, D鈥橝niello graduated magna cum laude from 黑料不打烊. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he was a distinguished naval graduate of the Officer Candidate School, as well as a supply officer aboard the U.S.S. Wasp (CVS 18). After serving his country, D鈥橝niello earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1974.

鈥淲e could not be more excited to have Dan D鈥橝niello speak to our graduates this year,鈥� says Whitman Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. 鈥淗is global business acumen is unparalleled, and I am certain his words of advice, based on his own success, leadership and generous spirit, are sure to resonate with our outstanding 2025 Whitman School graduates who are eager to soak up his wisdom as they embark on the next steps in their business careers.鈥�

In appreciation of the strong foundations he received at 黑料不打烊 and his commitment to the U.S military, D鈥橝niello has been a highly valued partner to the leadership of the Whitman School of Management, serving on the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC) and also establishing the D鈥橝niello Entrepreneurship Internship Program to support business development and expand students鈥� experiential learning opportunities. His other commitments include chairman of the Chancellor鈥檚 Council and co-chairman of the (IVMF) Advisory Board.

Long-time supporters of 黑料不打烊, Dan and his wife Gayle gave the naming gift to the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Building, home to the National Veterans Resource Center in 2018. At the opening of the building, Dan announced an additional transformative endowment and naming gift for the D鈥橝niello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, ensuring its work will continue well into the future.

The D鈥橝niellos鈥� unwavering support for 黑料不打烊 continued in 2022 when they committed a gift to support and expand the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello 黑料不打烊 Program in Florence, part of the 黑料不打烊 Abroad program in Florence, Italy. The program has been able to grow student opportunities, provide more faculty support, upgrade facilities, further develop the curriculum and provide scholarship support to students to attend the study abroad experience, specifically veteran and military-connected students. Most recently, D鈥橝niello and his wife made a transformative gift to expand 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Catholic Center.

The Whitman School of Management鈥檚 2025 Convocation will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 4 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Charles W. Beach

Shortly after graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from the College of Arts and Sciences, Charles W. Beach launched a firm representing manufacturers and helped a start-up company become a world class leader in opto-electronic components. Eventually, grew into a leader among manufacturers鈥� representatives, offering high technology component solutions and quality service throughout the Northeast. Long after Beach himself retired, the company remains family-owned and operated, in Jamesville, New York, with his son David at the helm.

Beach, who died on Feb. 22, 2025, at the age of 88, served his alma mater on the Board of Trustees as a voting trustee from 1991 to 2007 and remained active as a life trustee on the board鈥檚 Academic Affairs Committee. He also supported the University and its students philanthropically, including initiatives in the athletics department, and an endowed scholarship in the name of his parents, Arthur and Norma, both of whom were 黑料不打烊 graduates. Like their son, Arthur Beach 1917 and Norma Vergason Beach 1925 earned degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.

While building his business in the 1960s, Beach returned to 黑料不打烊 to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in education in the School of Education. He continued to live in 黑料不打烊 and commute to Rochester to support Kodak and Xerox with various electronic components.

鈥淭hrough his service and philanthropy, Charlie demonstrated his enduring support of higher education and 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淗e built a company grounded in innovation and service, demonstrating the value of relationships, integrity, and ingenuity.鈥�

Beach remained devoted to the greater 黑料不打烊 region in his civic work and volunteerism. He was a founding member of InterFaith Works of 黑料不打烊, where he served as board president, and was also past president of the United Methodist Foundation Inc. and the Vera House Foundation, and past president of the boards of Elmcrest Children鈥檚 Center and 黑料不打烊 Rotary.

The city he loved honored him in return. The Post-Standard honored him with a Person of Achievement award in 2003 for his 鈥渧olunteer leadership and monetary contributions to a long list of Central New York鈥檚 social service, educational and cultural institutions over the decades.鈥� Temple Adath Yeshurun honored Beach with a Citizen of the Year award in 2010. In 1991, he was named philanthropist of the year by the Central New York chapter of the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives.

Beach鈥檚 commitment to service and inclination toward leadership began early in life. He was elected class president at Nottingham High School after serving in that position at his elementary school, the Charles Andrews School. He pursued his passion for baseball in high school but, according to his family, his dream of playing professionally was dashed when he contracted polio in his pitching arm and shoulder.

Beach is survived by three children, Karen, Marilyn and David, along with seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Staff Selection Process:

All 黑料不打烊 staff members in good standing are eligible to apply. If you are interested in being considered for this important role, and submit it to svpchro@syr.edu by the deadline. Once all applications are reviewed, Chancellor Kent Syverud will be provided a list of up to three recommended candidates for final selection.

Important Dates:

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
• Representative Notification: The successful applicant will be notified in April
• Training for New Representatives: Training for staff, student, faculty and dean representatives will take place before the fall of 2025.

The creation of a staff representative position is a vital part of the Board’s commitment to hearing from all University constituencies. The Office of Human Resources strongly encourages all staff to consider applying for this opportunity to help shape the future of our university. They look forward to reviewing your applications and working together to ensure that many perspectives are represented at the highest levels of university governance.

Kim and Mike Venutolo

Michael 鈥淢ike鈥� Venutolo 鈥�77 and his wife, Kim, vividly remember sharing an eight-hour bus ride through the 110-degree desert in the United Arab Emirates with a half dozen engineering students from 黑料不打烊. Mike had helped design a novel two-week internship experience to expose the students to issues involved in producing and transporting potable water hundreds of miles across the desert. It was the kind of experiential learning that the Venutolos have supported through their philanthropy. The kind that directly and rapidly transforms the student experience.

鈥淚n the many hours we spent together, we learned so much about their lives and hopes and dreams,鈥� says Kim. 鈥淭hese students come from all walks of life and many of them don鈥檛 have the funding they need to help them get where they want to go.鈥� The desire to directly help students 鈥済et where they want to go鈥� is the motivation behind their recent gifts to the Forever Orange Campaign for 黑料不打烊 and what has become a nearly $2 million legacy in philanthropy that can only be described as 鈥渙utside the box鈥� thinking by a dedicated alumnus who describes himself as 鈥渁typical.鈥�

Venutolo, who was appointed to the University Board of Trustees in 2022, came from modest means鈥攈is father was a plumber, and he grew up in a New Jersey town where many teens went to vocational and technical high schools to learn trade skills. 鈥淚 grew up in a household filled with experiences,鈥� says Venutolo. 鈥淭here was a lot less learning from textbooks and a lot more learning from doing what my parents and grandparents did.鈥�

His parents insisted that he go to college, but he says he didn鈥檛 do very well鈥攗ntil he met a counselor who helped him identify a field where he could excel (civil engineering) and a few professors who spent the time to support his success.

The atypical student became an atypical graduate, taking his engineering degree overseas to work in Saudi Arabia. 鈥淚 was a junior engineer, working on a multibillion-dollar project building the world鈥檚 first major desalination plant,鈥� Venutolo says. 鈥淲e had no Google. If we had a critical question, we had to drive two hours to the closest telegraph office. It was hands-on problem solving.鈥�

Venutolo would spend more than four decades living overseas, building a successful career and creating a company that became a worldwide leader in engineering and construction services. Living in the Gulf region and England, he was disconnected from the Orange community, but decided to attend his 30th class reunion and forge a new bond to bring his international experience to benefit his alma mater. He helped originate the Middle East Regional Council and engaged his company, Raymond International Pipeline Services Group, in the design and implementation of summer internships for civil and environmental engineering students.

The Venutolos designed and supported engineering internship experiences, which included this group of six students who went to a site in Kuwait in 2014.

In a 2012 article published in the American Society for Engineering Education, 黑料不打烊 professors credited Venutolo with 鈥渉elping to create and support another model for successful development of future global engineers.鈥� The article, titled 鈥淪tepping Outside the Box: Education of Global Engineers,鈥� detailed the significance of this kind of experiential programming. 鈥淭hese programs have provided an essential service to the engineering profession by providing students with a solid foundation of genuine openness, cultural curiosity and cultural understanding, as well as a greater appreciation for the power of communication, interpersonal relationship skills, organization and team membership,鈥� the professors wrote.

Venutolo also supported the creation of a new construction engineering lab in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) in 2016, providing students on campus with a dedicated space for hands-on educational and research initiatives. His appreciation for international experiences and experiential learning is reflected in Venutolo鈥檚 most recent philanthropy, pledging nearly $1 million to create or support:

• Kim and Michael Venutolo 鈥�77 Fund for Experiential Learning to support students studying abroad and the London Center program with particular focus on community and cultural engagement through program-sponsored travel,
• Kim and Michael Venutolo 鈥�77 Fund for Professional Development to augment the activities of ECS clubs and societies specifically oriented to building professional skills, networking and education through their activities, including student travel to conferences,
• Kim and Michael Venutolo 鈥�77 Undergraduate Endowment Scholarship to provide scholarship and financial assistance to deserving ECS undergraduates,
• Kim and Michael Venutolo 鈥�77 Fund for Remembrance and Lockerbie Exchange to support trips to Lockerbie, the Lockerbie Academy and other remembrance related activities and
• Invention Accelerator Fund, which supports undergraduates as they design, prototype and pitch their inventions.

鈥淲e want to make a difference in individual students鈥� lives, to make it possible to attend a conference or get a passport or get on a plane to the Middle East,鈥� says Venutolo. For his wife, Kim, who never had a chance to get a college degree, helping college students achieve their dreams is particularly satisfying. 鈥淚 feel like these students try their hardest and we like to help.鈥�

“Mike and Kim have a deep understanding of the importance of experiential learning opportunities to student academic, professional and personal growth, and a passion for supporting these opportunities abroad,鈥� says Erika Wilkens, Ph.D., assistant provost and executive director of 黑料不打烊 Abroad. 鈥淭heir generous gift will provide students with invaluable immersive learning experiences in London, Lockerbie and beyond, and enable them to develop global skills that will benefit them for years to come.”

Both Venutolos have been judges for , which encourages the kind of innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that guided Michael in his career development. 鈥淢ichael has told me that he credits 黑料不打烊 with his ability to succeed,鈥� says Kim, who went to work after high school in order to help her family financially. Now married nearly 20 years, Michael credits Kim with being 鈥渁 champion for the underdog鈥� and identifying opportunities for philanthropy that directly help students. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have to be huge dollars,鈥� says Kim. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just got to be from your heart. I love the University that has adopted me. I鈥檝e become Orange.鈥�

“Through these extraordinary gifts, Mike and Kim have given current and future Orange students the chance to pursue a life-changing education: an education that is distinctive in the way it fosters innovation and professional growth,鈥� says ECS Dean J. Cole Smith. 鈥淭hanks to them, ECS will now be able to provide new life-changing scholarships, support experiential learning initiatives through our engineering and computing clubs and organizations, and devise groundbreaking inventions through our invention accelerator program, Invent@SU.鈥�

鈥淲hen we can talk to the students, see what they are inventing or touch what they are building, that鈥檚 what gets us excited,鈥� says Venutolo. Now that he is based in the states (he and Kim live in New Jersey), he has more access to the students and more reasons to visit campus as a University Trustee. 鈥淚鈥檓 really honored and proud to be part of the group. I鈥檓 enjoying bringing an international perspective and more outside the box thinking.鈥�

The Venutolos’ philanthropy helps support such initiatives as Invent@SU.

Richard Alexander

Over the last decade, Richard Alexander L鈥�82 has navigated his chosen profession (the law) and his chosen passion (黑料不打烊 and its law school) through incredibly challenging waters. As partner, managing partner and chair of one of the nation鈥檚 most prestigious law firms, Arnold & Porter, and as current University and College of Law , Alexander has always been directed by a North Star, a guiding light amidst uncertainty.

鈥淒uring very dynamic and demanding times in academia and the legal profession, I have found some common challenges and opportunities.听 Among other things, universities and law firms are in the talent business,鈥� says Alexander, who became at the start of 2025. 鈥淭he mission of the university is to recruit and retain very talented people, develop student scholars and create the kinds of connections that will help them become future leaders of the world. Law is a similarly noble profession, but it has become brutally competitive, which requires law firms to differentiate themselves in terms of talent recruitment and retention while delivering great results for clients.鈥�

Alexander is deeply proud of and grateful for the four decades spent at a law firm that is well known for its cutting-edge work, its strong pro bono program and its focus on providing opportunities for personal and professional growth throughout the organization. During his nearly ten years as chairman of the firm, he led the strategic combination of Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer (in 2017), and saw the combined entity surpass $1 billion in revenue in 2021. With more than 1,000 employees in 15 offices worldwide, Arnold & Porter has consistently been named to听The American Lawyer鈥檚听A-List, according to the magazine, because of its ability to balance industry pressures with a commitment to core values.

Core Values

When the A-List was announced last year, Alexander said, 鈥淥ur inclusion in The American Lawyer鈥檚听A-List is a reflection of the firm鈥檚 continuing commitment to providing extraordinary client service, protecting and defending the rule of law, having a diverse workplace and investing in our talent.鈥� He says those core values were reinforced while studying at the College of Law, including a commitment to pro bono work and the value of public service.

With his law degree, Alexander began his legal career in the federal government in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Though he was recruited just three years later to join Arnold & Porter, he told 黑料不打烊 law students that he left government work with great reluctance. In remarks delivered to first-year law students at the Sherman F. Levey Lecture in 2010, Alexander said, 鈥淧ublic service offers an opportunity to get fantastic experience and responsibility.听While I recognize that government jobs are not as lucrative as the private sector, they can be more rewarding in terms of professional development and personal growth.鈥�

This belief drove the establishment of a scholarship in honor of his parents, the Rhoda S. and Albert M. Alexander Memorial Scholarship, to encourage law students to pursue public and government service. It also drives distinction for Arnold & Porter. Alexander points out the significance of its continuing pro bono portfolio of work. “We’re the firm that secured the constitutional right to counsel in听Gideon v. Wainwright鈥攁rgued by one of our founding partners, Abe Fortas鈥攁nd we believe we are one of the leading pro bono firms in the world,”听he .

Public Service Ethos

From helping to secure American Sign Language interpreters at White House briefings, to protecting civil rights and voting rights, to cases involving police discrimination, housing, public benefits, immigration and unemployment, the firm nurtures a public service ethos among associates and partners. Last year, Arnold & Porter was recognized by The American Lawyer as a top 10 firm on its .

鈥淒o not forget those who are in need, and put your law degree to work to help the community at large,鈥� Alexander counseled law students during his lecture.

Kevin Toomey L鈥�12 says Alexander and the firm have 鈥渄one a great job in recruiting top talent from the law school鈥� and describes the firm鈥檚 commitment to both excellence and public service as a 鈥渦nique combination.鈥� A 黑料不打烊 native, Toomey first met Alexander while Toomey was in law school working at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and rising star at Arnold & Porter and head of the firm鈥檚 financial services practice group.

鈥淚t takes a certain type of character to lead a law firm of 1,000 very qualified, credentialed and also opinionated lawyers,鈥� says Toomey. 鈥淩ichard did that very well, while balancing collegiality and client success, getting the best of the best and retaining talent, and holding on to our core values as a firm.鈥�

黑料不打烊’s ‘Secret Sauce’

Both Toomey and Alexander believe that 黑料不打烊 law school graduates are well-prepared to compete in an increasingly competitive industry. Both agree there鈥檚 something intangible about 黑料不打烊 that strengthens its students. 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 walking up the hill to the law school through the snow every day,鈥� says Toomey with a chuckle. 鈥淵ou feel some kind of obligation and responsibility to prove yourself.鈥�

Alexander calls it 黑料不打烊鈥檚 鈥渟ecret sauce,鈥� a kind of grittiness. 鈥淲e also have a strong moral compass at the University,鈥� says Alexander, who was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2016 and currently serves as its vice chair. He will become chair of the Academic Affairs Committee in May.

鈥淯niversities have had to navigate through some important challenges, including the rising cost of education, changes in athletics, the implications of technology and online learning,鈥� says Alexander. 鈥淚 think 黑料不打烊 has done an excellent job and there鈥檚 more to be done. The University and law school must continue to differentiate themselves. I want people to understand the strengths of the University as a place that brings together people with different life experiences and from all walks of life.鈥�

Similarly, Alexander points to Arnold & Porter鈥檚 commitment to be a place that is welcoming to all. That idea of bringing a wide range of perspectives to the college and practice of law inspired the creation of the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L鈥�75 Endowed Law Scholarship. Alexander and his wife, Emily, made a substantial gift to help establish the scholarship in 2022 to honor the legendary graduate and jurist whose public service demonstrated a deep concern for social justice and to provide opportunity for deserving students.

No matter what his role Alexander remains a steward of ethical principles and the dual pursuit of justice and excellence. After all, he says, 鈥渨e are teaching young people to be citizens of the world.鈥�

Tarky J. Lombardi Jr.

Longtime Board of Trustees member and dedicated University supporter Tarky J. Lombardi Jr. 鈥�51, L鈥�54, H鈥�87 passed away peacefully on Nov. 24, 2024. Referred to simply as 鈥淭arky鈥� by all those who knew him in the Orange community and around Central New York, Lombardi was 95 years old.

Lombardi earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in 1951 and a J.D. from the College of Law in 1954.听He was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from 黑料不打烊 in 1987.

Appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1976, Lombardi served as a voting trustee for nearly three decades. He also served on the College of Law Board of Advisors, Falk College Board of Visitors and the National Alumni Association Board.听He was also co-chair of the Schine Student Center National Campaign and honorary chair of the College of Law Annual Fund. In addition, he supported various initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Law and 黑料不打烊 Athletics. He was recognized in 1983 with the University鈥檚 highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award.

鈥淭arky was an incredibly dedicated public servant, a giant in Central New York politics,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淵et, no matter how busy he was legislating, lobbying and leading, Tarky could often be found in his Dome suite, cheering on his alma mater. The Dome is not only a place he helped get built, it is home to the spirit that drove his loyalty and passion for service to the Orange community.鈥�

Lombardi was an avid 黑料不打烊 Athletics supporter and longtime season ticket holder. His support started with the Orange Pack, the athletics fundraising arm founded in 1974, which became the Orange Club in 2006, and is now known as the 鈥機use Athletics Fund. He helped secure $15 million in state grants for the Dome鈥檚 construction.

Lombardi began his public service in 1959 when the Onondaga County Republican Party selected him to run for a seat on the 黑料不打烊 Common Council. It was the first of what would mark many campaign victories. He served the Common Council for six years, including time as its majority leader. He eventually ran for statewide election and, in 1965, was elected New York State Senate representative for the 49th district. His district covered a large swath of Central New York situated almost entirely in Onondaga and Cortland counties.

He championed legislative efforts to contain health care and medical malpractice costs through medical malpractice reform and the creation of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. His signature piece of legislation was the Nursing Homes without Walls program鈥攁 pilot program that served as a model for other states and earned him recognition as Legislator of the Year from the National Association for Home Care. He chaired the Senate Health Committee from 1971 until 1989 and the Senate Finance Committee from 1989 until 1992.

Lombardi was similarly committed to supporting arts and culture initiatives, believing they were fundamental to a well-rounded education. He was chairman of the Senate Special Committee on the Arts and helped re-codify the state鈥檚 art law. He became quite popular among members of the New York entertainment community and worked closely with celebrities like Kitty Carlisle Hart and Tony Randall on multiple legislative projects.听In 1986, he was named National Republican Legislator of the Year. In 1992, Lombardi retired from the Senate.

As special counsel to the law firm of Barclay Damon LLP in 黑料不打烊, Lombardi worked with clients in the energy, health care, insurance, telecommunications and transportation industries. His civic commitments included service on the boards of the New York Historical Society, 黑料不打烊 Symphony Orchestra, 黑料不打烊 Opera Company, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center Advisory Board, WCNY Public Broadcasting, Loretto, Onondaga Community College Foundation, Landmark Theater Foundation, New York Historical Society in New York City and the New York State Council for Humanities.

Lombardi is survived by his wife, Marianne, and their children Tarky III; Jennine Lombardi Yonta G鈥�92 (Whitman School); Marianne Lombardi Fogelson 鈥�89 (College of Arts and Sciences), L鈥�92; Michael 鈥�91 (College of Arts and Sciences); and Rosemary; and eight grandchildren.

Carrying on his legacy, Lombardi鈥檚 family encourages memorial contributions to the 黑料不打烊 Athletics Opportunity Fund in recognition of his commitment and passion for 黑料不打烊 Athletics and his enduring love for supporting student-athletes, coaches and his alma mater.

Robert E. Dineen Jr. (center) served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2016 and was a member of the Budget and Advancement and External Affairs committees. He was also a member of the College of Law Board of Advisors and the National Alumni Association Board.

Dineen Jr. was generationally attached to the College of Law. His parents had attended the College of Law and Dineen Hall is named in honor of them: Robert E. Dineen Sr. L鈥�1924, H鈥�66 and Carolyn Bareham Dineen L鈥�1932. His mother was one of only two women in her class. His father was raised in the Irish immigrant neighborhood near the law school at the western edge of the University campus, a neighborhood referred to as 鈥渢he swamp.鈥�

Dineen Jr. passed away Oct. 12, 2024, at 84. He served on the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2016 and was a member of the Budget and Advancement and External Affairs committees. He was also a member of the College of Law Board of Advisors and the National Alumni Association Board. He was generous in his philanthropy, supporting scholarships and financial aid for law school students.

鈥淔or decades, Bob Dineen Jr. played a major role in ensuring 黑料不打烊 remained at the forefront of legal education,鈥� said Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 evident in all the ways he continued to give back to his alma mater, including his years of dedicated service on the Board of Trustees and on the College of Law Board of Advisors. His family鈥檚 transformational gift led the way in creating a state-of-the-art facility to support the next generation of law students, while honoring his parents鈥� legacy. And Bob鈥檚 accomplishments in finance law across the globe demonstrate that a 黑料不打烊 education can take our students anywhere.鈥�

When Hannah Arterian became dean of the College of Law in 2003, she asked for Dineen Jr.鈥檚 assistance in creating a strategic plan to form a new Board of Advisors. She described him as 鈥渁n incredible person鈥� for his guidance. 听He was a driving force behind the capital campaign that would bring Dineen Hall to life鈥攁 200,000-square-foot building that brought together the law school community under one roof for the first time and would be hailed as one of the most architecturally attractive law school buildings in the world.

Robert E. Dineen Jr.

Dineen Jr. had attended the College of Law after earning his undergraduate degree at Brown University. He served as editor of the 黑料不打烊 Law Review and was named to the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honor Society. In 2010, the College of Law presented him with its Law Review Alumni Achievement Award.

Dineen Jr. had a successful career focused on public finance transactions. He was also a specialist in U.S. and international private banking and financial transactions, including equipment and project financing.

He was a partner of Shearman & Sterling LLP, a leading international law firm from 1974 until his retirement in听December 2005. While at Shearman & Sterling, he led several of the firm’s corporate groups, including those responsible for Latin America and Asia as well as听its global project finance work. Over the years, he spent significant time in the firm’s offices in Algeria, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Toronto, and Washington.

鈥淏ob鈥檚 brilliant career in international legal and financial transactions and steadfast client relationships inspires our students to excel in everything they do,鈥� says College of Law Dean Terence Lau L鈥�98. 鈥淎s commendable is his leadership, along with his siblings, in honoring their parents when they led the campaign to build Dineen Hall that our students, faculty, and staff are thankful for every day.鈥�

Dineen Jr. is survived by his wife, Jeanne C. Olivier, Esq., and his sister, the Honorable Carolyn Dineen King H鈥�06, judge and former听chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Douglas Present

The Whitman School of Management is pleased to announce a significant seed gift from Douglas 鈥�86 and Susan Present to the school鈥檚 Opportunity Fund. The donation will serve to create a pilot project to allow students with great academic potential, but limited financial resources, to take advantage of the unique opportunities at Whitman by helping to cover certain expenses not traditionally covered by scholarships or financial aid.听 Specifically, the Opportunity Fund will assist students to cover the costs of student activities, unanticipated events leading to financial hardships and stipends to cover expenses related to increasingly important summer internships.

The Presents鈥� generosity has been primarily anonymous in the past, but they hope that by making the gift public, they can help to raise additional funds and inspire other Whitman alumni to contribute to the Opportunity Fund, as well as encourage University leadership to create a similar fund for all 黑料不打烊 students across all schools.

A University Trustee, Doug Present is a member of the Board鈥檚 executive committee and chair of its finance committee, and has been a longstanding member of the Whitman Advisory Council (WAC). He graduated from the Whitman School and found success in the healthcare industry, having worked at Deloitte & Touche, Medsite, Inc. and Managed Health Care Associates, Inc., before starting his own investment firm, Douglas Present Associates, LLC.

鈥淪usan and I want every student to have a complete and full 黑料不打烊 Orange experience,鈥� Present says. 鈥淐osts not covered by financial aid can inhibit opportunities for students with high financial need. All students should have the opportunity to participate in non-academic activities and have the ability to accept a summer internship opportunity in a high-cost city. Lastly, no student should have their academic ambitions thrown off track by unexpected events that lead to expenses not covered by financial aid. Our philanthropy has always been focused on creating opportunities for high-achieving students with limited financial means to have the same opportunities as students who come from higher income families. I am pleased that Whitman is taking the lead on this initiative, and I hope to encourage the implementation of a similar program across the entire University.鈥�

Requests for grants from the Whitman Opportunity Fund will be facilitated on a rolling, case-by-case basis while funding remains available.

鈥淲e are extremely grateful for the thoughtful generosity of Douglas and Susan Present, who are strongly committed to relieving the less visible financial burdens that some of our students quietly face,鈥� says Whitman School Interim Dean Alex McKelvie. 鈥淲e hope this gift will jump start a renewed awareness within our alumni supporters that this kind of need truly does exist and encourage others to help make a difference in Whitman students鈥� long-term success.鈥�

For more information on the Whitman School of Management Opportunity Fund, go to .

She is a member of the Student Association鈥檚 Sustainability Forum, and she has spent time in the greater 黑料不打烊 community as a volunteer youth language instructor and as a researcher to understand residents鈥� civic engagement preferences. Her many pursuits also include work with the Maxwell-based Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health to publish a brief on a topic she is deeply interested in鈥攅nvironmental racism and injustice.

Zepeda is one of nine Maxwell students who were honored with Centennial Scholar Awards at the school鈥檚 Centennial Celebration held Friday, Oct. 18, in the University鈥檚 Goldstein Auditorium. The celebration and awards were supported with generous sponsorships from the family of Sean O鈥橩eefe 鈥�78 M.P.A., University Professor and Phanstiel Chair in Leadership, and Maxwell Advisory Board members Cathy Daicoff 鈥�79 M.P.A. and Stephen Hagerty 鈥�93 M.P.A. Hagerty is also a 黑料不打烊 trustee.

Five undergraduates and four graduate students were selected from hundreds of applicants. Each was required to submit a statement describing how their aspirations align with the Maxwell School鈥檚 ideals of engaged citizenship and public service.

鈥淭o me, public service represents an opportunity to put the public good at the forefront. It entails putting citizens first and actively listening. It means ensuring that every citizen has the same rights and access to feel seen and heard. It means delivering on the needs of the people in my home country as well as abroad,鈥� wrote Zepeda, who is from Honduras.

Before coming to Maxwell, she interned with the United Nations in Honduras, an experience that provided a unique front-row seat to issues central to her interests and career aspirations, including the environment and Indigenous rights.

鈥淚 really wanted to gain the skills necessary to tackle the problems affecting vulnerable populations,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 miss home a lot, and I care about the people and the circumstances. I feel responsible to make a difference.鈥�

In addition to Zepeda, Centennial Scholars are as follows:

Undergraduate Students

Adam Baltaxe of Arlington, Virginia, is pursuing a dual degree in international relations and Spanish language, literature and culture. The senior is currently an advisory board member for Search for Common Ground鈥檚 national 鈥淏lueprint for Belonging鈥� project which seeks to bring students from diverse perspectives together in colleges across the country. He is also the fundraising chair for Save a Child鈥檚 Heart SU, the Jewish representative for Student Assembly of Interfaith Leaders and a volunteer for Global Medical Brigades, the Refugee Assistance Program and WCNY鈥檚 new Spanish radio station. Baltaxe is a Remembrance Scholar and is a recipient of several honors, including the Coronat Scholarship, IR Distinction and Jewish-Muslim Fellowship. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Iota Rho, Phi Kappa Alpha and Muslim Students鈥� Association, as well as the multicultural/faith chair for Hillel. He aspires to work internationally, bringing people together through dialogue and resolving conflict.

Undergraduate honorees with Dean David M. Van Slyke are, from left to right, Adam Baltaxe, Jorge Morales, Anna Rupert, Nathan Torabi and Mariana Zepeda.

Jorge Morales of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, is a junior studying history and anthropology. A Success Scholar, Morales is a member of the editorial board for CHRONOS, the 黑料不打烊 undergraduate history journal. He is also the vice president of the 黑料不打烊 chapter of Brighten A Day, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting isolation through letters, care packages and video messages. Morales has supported the work of Tessa Murphy, associate professor of history, to transcribe the 1813 Registry of Enslaved Persons in Trinidad. Through his research, he hopes to gain insights into the impacts of slavery and share the personal experiences of enslaved peoples. He plans to use the skills he gains at Maxwell to collaborate with museums and historical sites to better recognize and address issues of intolerance and systemic inequity.

Anna Rupert of Arlington, Virginia, is pursuing degrees in economics and philosophy. The junior is a forward for the women鈥檚 soccer team and has received several academic recognitions, including having been named to the All-ACC Academic Team, All-ACC Honor Roll and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. She is a member of the Ren茅e Crown honors program and serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, focusing on community outreach and providing support to other student athletes. Rupert is a research assistant for the economics department and is a discussion leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In the summer of 2024, she plans to intern in the treasury department at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After graduating, Rupert hopes to play soccer professionally in Europe before transitioning to a career in finance.

Nathan Torabi of Visalia, California, is majoring in political science; citizenship and civic engagement; and law, society and policy. A junior, he is an inaugural member of the Next Generation Leadership Corps, as well as a student ambassador for the Maxwell School and the College of Arts and Sciences and OttoTHON, a dance fundraiser that raises funds for Children鈥檚 Miracle Network hospitals. A Coronat Scholar, he has received several other awards, including the Maxwell Philanthropic Ambassador, Paul A. Volcker Government Internship Award, the Maxwell Exemplary Student Paper Award and Michael D. Schneider Award. Currently a legislative intern for U.S. Senator Charles Schumer in Washington, D.C., he has also worked within the 黑料不打烊 Admissions Office and for an attorney鈥檚 office. Formerly a project intern with CNY Pride, Torabi aspires to attend law school and become a civil litigator to champion LGBTQ+ rights within the education system.

Graduate Students

Ferdinand Eimler of Berlin, Germany, is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in international relations at Maxwell while also pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in public policy from the Hertie School in Berlin as part of the Atlantis Dual Degree Master鈥檚 Program. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in politics and public administration from the University of Konstanz in Germany. Eimler gained professional experience in international relations at the German Federal Foreign Office, co-organizing diplomacy and foreign policy workshops across Europe for the Global Diplomacy Lab and advancing German foreign policy at the United Nations. He currently works for the Aspen Institute Germany, where he 鈥嬧€嬧€嬧€媐osters relations between state and provincial legislators from the United States, Germany and Canada. As an alumnus of the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship, Eimler aspires to a career focused on strengthening transatlantic relations, particularly between Germany and the United States.

Shown with Dean David M. Van Slyke, the four graduate students honored with Centennial Scholar Awards are, from left to right, Julia Liebell-McLean, Ferdinand Eimler, Benjamin Katz and Kaythari Maw.

Benjamin Katz of New York City is a second-year political science Ph.D. student studying international relations and public policy and administration. His research interests include secession and sovereignty, conflict and violence, and international organizations. He is particularly interested in the politics of the United Kingdom and the European Union. Katz is a research associate in the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs and the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration. He is also a research assistant for a National Science Foundation project on intra- and interstate conflict. Outside of Maxwell, he is a Ph.D. research fellow at the Foreign Military Studies Office, a component of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. Katz earned an A.B. in government and history from Hamilton College in 2020 and worked in the financial services industry before he began his Maxwell studies.

Julia Liebell-McLean of central New Jersey is pursuing a dual master’s degree in public administration and international relations. She studied in France during high school, and later, as a Fulbright Scholar and English teaching assistant, spent nine months living in Senegal, inspiring her passion for global affairs. She received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and has interned with the Senate Office of Cory A. Booker, the French Institute in New York City and the U.S. Department of State. Earlier this year, Liebell-McLean was also named a 2024 Robertson Fellow, one of the most prestigious awards for graduate students at Maxwell. She hopes to pursue a career with the State Department furthering diplomacy with African countries.

Kaythari Maw of Staten Island, New York, is pursuing a Ph.D. in economics, and says she is the first female Burmese American to do so. Maw earned a master鈥檚 degree in regional science from Cornell University, where she was awarded the Southeast Asia Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship to study Burmese. Prior to that she earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics at Columbia University鈥檚 Barnard College. At Cornell and Columbia, she helped to re-establish the Myanmar Students associations; she is currently working on creating a similar organization at 黑料不打烊. With her research, Maw hopes to reduce the gap in literature about the economic circumstances of Burmese diaspora.

Story by Mikayla Melo

Robert 鈥�86 and Kathryn Taishoff

How do you inspire people to open their hearts and provide the support to raise the hefty sum of $2.5 million? Just ask retired U.S. Navy Capt. Robert 鈥淩ob鈥� P. Taishoff 鈥�86 who sees opportunities where others see obstacles, and who is determined to change the way the world views intellectual disability. With the recent Taishoff Family Foundation gift of $2.5 million to inclusive higher education at 黑料不打烊, Taishoff is challenging others to see the world the way he does and match his family鈥檚 pledge.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen the confidence that these young men and women with intellectual disabilities develop when given educational opportunities, and it鈥檚 mind-blowing,鈥� says Taishoff. 鈥淚f we give them the chance to pursue their interests and prepare them for careers, just like we do with every student at 黑料不打烊, they will thrive, excel, succeed and surprise us.鈥�

Taishoff continues to marvel at the successes of the students who attend InclusiveU and the accomplishments of the , named for his father in 2009 with a $1.1 million grant from Taishoff. The center and InclusiveU have become national models for the inclusion and education of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At that time, Taishoff was a University Trustee; he served as a voting trustee from 2009 to 2021 and is now a life trustee. Taishoff has been involved in many University initiatives, but it was inclusive education and the work going on at the (CDI) in the School of Education that captured his whole heart.

Taishoff鈥檚 daughter, Jackie, was born with Down syndrome in 2001, and he experienced firsthand the promise and the heartbreak felt by the families of young people often marginalized by society. 鈥淛ackie is very social and friendly, and frequently surprises us with what she鈥檚 capable of doing,鈥� says Taishoff. He鈥檇 love to see her attend InclusiveU but as a resident of Maryland, her benefits associated with her disability won鈥檛 cross state lines. The portability of benefits is one of those systemic policy issues that CDI鈥檚 staff is working to change, helping students overcome barriers to pursue an education and career.

According to Sara Hart Weir, a national expert in disability policy and former president of the National Down Syndrome Society, Taishoff is the kind of visionary who 鈥渟ees endless opportunities not just for Jackie, but for all people with disabilities. Rob wants them to have the kinds of opportunities every other American has, from education to health care, from financial services to careers.鈥� Weir says individuals with Down syndrome are an 鈥渦ntapped workforce who, with access to programs like InclusiveU, can skill up, enter the workforce and become taxpayers.鈥� She says InclusiveU is the 鈥渂est of the best鈥� in providing these kinds of opportunities.

Strengthening Programming

The Taishoff Family Foundation has contributed several million dollars over the years to strengthen CDI, the Taishoff Center and InclusiveU, providing resources for programmatic growth. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e achieved all their goals in the last five-year plan and that set the stage for the next five-year plan,鈥� says Taishoff, who hopes his new gift will be leveraged to bring in new donor support. The next five-year plan seeks to grow enrollment by 25% and offer new experiences for students with intellectual disability.

鈥淲e鈥檙e never satisfied with what we鈥檙e doing,鈥� says Beth Myers, the Lawrence B. Taishoff Associate Professor of Inclusive Education, executive director of the Taishoff Center and assistant director of CDI. 鈥淲e may be the largest program of our kind in the nation, but there are always more opportunities to pursue. For example, I dream of first providing our students with a two-week study abroad in Italy with the goal of a full semester of study abroad in any location where any other 黑料不打烊 student can go. Am I dreaming huge dreams? Yes. Is it possible? Yes!鈥� But, Myers acknowledges, it takes more resources and staffing to achieve those dreams.

Myers credits her 鈥渁mazing team and an incredible staff at InclusiveU who would do anything for these students鈥� to deliver on dreams. She has watched the program at InclusiveU grow from 14 students in three majors to 100 students in 45 majors taking more than 300 courses across the University. 鈥淲e have allies in every department across campus, top down and bottom up support,鈥� says Myers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a culture grounded in the University鈥檚 60-plus year history in disability advocacy. People really value the work we do in inclusion.鈥�

鈥淚 am continuously inspired by Rob Taishoff鈥檚 generosity and, now, his strategic challenge to others to help advance 黑料不打烊鈥檚 leadership in the disability community,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淩ob persists in challenging all of us to think of innovative and creative solutions and to collaborate across units and colleges to ensure equitable opportunities for all our students and to be a standard-bearer for academic institutions nationwide.鈥�

Through those opportunities, Taishoff sees how students become one with the University community. 鈥淥ur intellectually disabled students are woven into the fabric of the University, from the classroom to living arrangements, from social activities to career preparation,鈥� says Taishoff.

Going Beyond

CDI鈥檚 strategic plan for growth goes beyond assisting the growth of the Taishoff Center and enrollment in InclusiveU. It would enhance access to higher education among students in the 黑料不打烊 City School district (nationally, less than 2% of high school students with intellectual disability go to college). It would invest in innovative technical assistance for disabled students and establish an Inclusive Higher Education Technical Assistance Center to help other colleges and universities. It would support research, fellowships and teaching to advance the field. It would provide more resources for career advising and career placement (only 17% of adults with intellectual disabilities are employed nationally). The newly established Robert and Kathryn Taishoff Fund would support many of these initiatives and scholarship support for students.

In addition to the new fund, the latest Taishoff gift continues support through the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education Endowed Fund. Part of the $1.5 billion , Taishoff鈥檚 gift builds on and the legacy of the School of Education. Rob Taishoff鈥檚 father Lawrence and grandfather Sol philanthropically supported education, journalism and health research. Taishoff says his father was 鈥渆xceptionally close鈥� to granddaughter Jackie, perhaps because he had witnessed a cousin with Down syndrome sent to an institution and shielded away from society and opportunity.

Taishoff says his own military experience also reinforced the family鈥檚 commitment to opening the doors of opportunity. He spent more than two decades in active duty in the Navy and managed Navy and Marine Corps attorneys and civilians representing service members. 鈥淣o matter what background or walk of life someone was from, whether enlisted or an officer, we were all pulling for the same goals, trying to fulfill a mission,鈥� Taishoff says. 鈥淚 saw people who were given opportunities in the military that they would not have had otherwise, and I saw them thrive and excel.鈥�

The Taishoff Family Foundation鈥檚 legacy aligns with that of the School of Education, which is recognized as an international leader in the deinstitutionalization and school inclusion movements. The school is home to the first disability studies program in the country and the first joint degree program in law and disability studies, and it helped 黑料不打烊 become the first research university to launch an integrated elementary and special education teacher education program.

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to build on history once again,鈥� says Taishoff. 鈥淚 hope others will join me in creating new futures for countless young people who deserve a chance to contribute in ways that will amaze us.鈥�

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

John E. Breyer

Breyer was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2001, co-chaired the Budget Committee from 2003-2006 and was a life trustee participant on the Board Finance Committee. He was a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council at ECS and the Atlanta Regional Council.

His deep connection to the University began when he moved to Central New York to pursue a career with General Electric. For nearly three decades, Breyer worked for this Fortune 500 company鈥檚 underseas business division and rose to serve eventually as general manager of the entire underseas systems business. He took graduate courses at ECS and became the company鈥檚 representative for GE Corporate-sponsored programs on campus. Several of his employees were adjuncts in the college, and he appointed a member of his human resources department to initiate a program to help support minority students in engineering.

鈥淲e feel strongly that all citizens should support education, and we wanted to do something that would make a difference for many years to come,鈥� said Breyer when it was announced that he and his wife bestowed a $1.1 million faculty endowment gift to establish the John E. and Patricia A. Breyer Professorship in Electrical Engineering to attract world-class faculty specifically to the electrical engineering program, and advance excellence in engineering research and teaching. The couple also established an endowed scholarship fund to support deserving students.

鈥淛ohn was such an ardent supporter of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and 黑料不打烊,鈥� says J. Cole Smith, dean of the . 鈥淗e and his family have made a tremendous impact in supporting our students and our research enterprise. I will miss him and will be forever grateful for the generous and sincere way John helped advance the aspirations of so many people in ECS.鈥�

Breyer himself earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1961, after serving in the United States Navy as an enlisted soldier and continuing in the Navy Reserve. Described as a lifelong learner by his family, Breyer graduated from GE鈥檚 rigorous Advanced Engineering and General Management Programs. He was recognized as an innovator and leader in multiple fields related to communication, signal intelligence and antenna measurement.

Breyer joined Scientific-Atlanta Inc. in 1989 as the company senior vice president and president of two divisions before ascending to become president and chief executive officer of MI Technologies, a company he founded along with other investors. He continued to lead in these roles as the company expanded and merged to become NSI-MI Technologies, a high-tech company that develops and manufactures testing and measurement systems, equipment and products used to test communications, radar, satellite, wireless and EMC/EMI systems. He retired in 2021 at the age of 86.

Breyer鈥檚 connection to 黑料不打烊 was personal and professional. His daughter, Deborah Knoblock 鈥�88, G鈥�90, earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from the School of Education and is chair of the School of Education鈥檚 Advisory Board. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia, his daughters Deborah and Tamara, and three grandchildren. The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to benefit ECS or the School of Education or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation that serves veterans and first responders.

Maloney, a researcher who investigates fundamental questions in theoretical physics and quantum information theory, comes to 黑料不打烊 from in Montreal.

Alexander Maloney

鈥淚 am delighted by the opportunity to work with the outstanding students and faculty at 黑料不打烊 to help push the forefront of research in quantum science,鈥� Maloney says.

The Walters Endowed Professorship was established by a $2.5 million gift from 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Kathy Walters 鈥�73 and her husband, Stan 鈥�72. Their gift was made as part of the , which supports the recruitment and retention of high-caliber faculty.

鈥淭he commitment of the Walters family has allowed us to recruit a world-class leader for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 quantum science program,鈥� says , vice president for research. 鈥淧rofessor Maloney will bring together outstanding faculty from the and the and provide new opportunities for our students to engage in cutting-edge research.鈥�

Maloney鈥檚 research focuses on connections between quantum information theory, field theory, statistical mechanics and quantum gravity.

鈥淥ver the last century, advances in our understanding of the quantum world have underlain some of the most important scientific and technical advances that have changed both our society and our understanding of the universe,鈥� Maloney says. 鈥淭his includes deep questions ranging from elementary particle physics and black holes to materials science and engineering. Many of the most exciting current directions lie at the intersection of quantum science and information theory, where a new field of science is being created that may have profound implications, both for our understanding of fundamental physics and for the construction of quantum computers and precision devices.鈥�

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi notes that health care is another area of promise in quantum information science. 鈥淔or example, we can imagine the potential for much earlier detection of diseases like cancer through quantum sensing, and the creation of highly personalized, more effective treatments for those diseases based on analysis of massive amounts of DNA data,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ith Professor Maloney bringing his internationally recognized expertise to join the other top researchers in A&S physics, we are excited to be on the leading edge of this frontier.鈥�

Maloney鈥檚 previous positions include James McGill Professor of Physics and Sir William Macdonald Chair in Physics at McGill University, where he was honored with the John David Jackson Award for excellence in teaching. He was a member of the in Princeton, New Jersey, and a research associate at the . He was selected as a Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics in 2013. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from Harvard University and an M.Sc. in mathematics and B.Sc. in physics from Stanford University.

At 黑料不打烊, Maloney will work with four new researchers鈥攏ow being recruited by the University with support from and 鈥攚ho will grow teaching and research in quantum science, providing opportunities for students to advance understanding of nature and design the next generation of quantum technologies.

Doctoral students in clinical psychology听Alexa Deyo 鈥�21 and Alison Vrabec G鈥�23 spent their summer testing a theory that a certain kind of therapeutic technique called motivational interviewing could improve sleep and overall health among adolescents. According to the , sleep problems can impact how people learn, think and get along with others. 鈥淚f teens are sleeping better, their mental health is improved; they are more emotionally regulated and less impulsive,鈥� says听, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, who is supervising the clinical research.

Kathy Walters

Their research is exactly the kind of promising work that philanthropic alumni听Kathy Walters听鈥�73, H鈥�23 and her husband, Stan 鈥�72, had in mind when they set up the Walters Endowed Fund for Science Research in 2016. According to Kathy Walters, they were hoping to create new opportunities for research that would benefit humanity鈥攁nd they left the door open for the dean and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) to define what those benefits might be.

鈥淩esearchers tend to see things that those of us not immersed in science would never see,鈥� says Walters, a 黑料不打烊 Trustee. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a big believer in telling capable people what they should be researching.鈥� In fact, the funding is to be used to support a vast array of academic inquiry, including 鈥渦ndergraduate, graduate or faculty-led research in the sciences, including departments of biology, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, Earth science, mathematics, psychology and physics.鈥�

The funding is awarded at the discretion of the A&S dean and associate dean for research to recognize outstanding research faculty. 鈥淩esearch funding is critical to supporting our academic mission,鈥� says A&S Dean听Behzad Mortazavi. 鈥淲ith Kathy and Stan鈥檚 gift, we can invest in more of our stellar faculty and students, so they can contribute their enormous expertise to solving challenges in the areas of the environment and climate, health and wellness, social justice and human thriving.鈥�

Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu

Since the fund was established, it has supported research by graduate students in physics, chemistry, biology and psychology. 鈥淭hanks to the Walters, I was able to spend the summer of 2023 in the lab full-time,鈥� says Favour Chukwudumebi Ononiwu, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in cell biology and is dedicated to figuring out the cellular behavior that governs early development of human tissue. 鈥淭his particular tissue helps the body organize itself. Understanding how that happens is key to understanding developmental defects.鈥�

鈥淏ench to bedside research鈥� like this takes years of toil at the 鈥渂ench鈥� in the lab to reach the 鈥渂edside鈥� where people can benefit. Ononiwu says the funding from the Walters allowed her to spend a lot more time at that bench, reduce some of the costs associated with conducting the research, and speed up the process of discovery. 鈥淚t was also empowering to be in a space where I didn鈥檛 have to worry about my finances and could come into the lab and focus on the experiment. It also helped get my research to the point where I could apply for more grants and fellowships to accelerate the research.鈥�

Ononiwu, who hopes to pursue a job in a biotechnology, pharmaceutical or biomedical company, says the Walters funding was a 鈥渃atalyst for my development as a researcher and a professional.鈥�

Kidwell says her graduate students are deepening their own clinical training through the funded research and positioning themselves to be more competitive for National Institutes of Health grants.

鈥淥ftentimes, teaching assistantships take precedence over research assistantships because of financial need,鈥� says Deyo, a first-year doctoral student in clinical psychology.

Professor Katie Kidwell (second from left) with members of the Child Health Lab, including graduate students (from left) Toni Hamilton, Alison Vrabec, Lyric Tully, Alexa Deyo and Megan Milligan.

The doctoral students were able to accelerate the launch of their study this past summer, recruit a significant number of teens aged 13 to 17 as study subjects, expose them to the intervention called motivational interviewing and measure the impact on their sleep using a smart watch-type of device called an actigraph.

The intent of their research, of course, is to help teens and college students problem-solve and deal with stressors that impact their well-being. The research aligns with Kathy Walters鈥� sensitivity to the impact of stress on health. 鈥淭he world is moving at such a rapid pace that it鈥檚 difficult for people to prioritize and focus amidst the change and anxiety,鈥� says Walters. 鈥淗elping faculty and students make the most of opportunities to improve health and humanity remains our priority.鈥�

鈥淲e are so grateful to Kathy and Stan for their generosity and vision in establishing this fund,鈥� says John Quigley, A&S assistant dean for advancement. 鈥淲e hope others who are similarly passionate about academic and research excellence at the University will follow suit. An endowment of $100,000 or more provides the kind of annual supplemental support needed by our talented faculty to accelerate the impact of their teaching and research.鈥�

Walters says it鈥檚 important to provide gifts that are not too restricted. 鈥淪tudents are developing the critical thinking skills required to pursue knowledge that answers the big questions facing our world. By supporting research, we are helping them find the answers.鈥�

Selina Gallo-Cruz

Selina Gallo-Cruz, associate professor of sociology, is the latest Maxwell School faculty member to be named an O鈥橦anley Faculty Scholar. She was selected in recognition of her outstanding teaching and scholarship.

Gallo-Cruz will hold the title for three years and will receive financial support for her research and teaching.

The designation is made possible through the O鈥橦anley Endowed Fund, which was established by Maxwell Advisory Board Chairman and University Trustee Ronald O鈥橦anley III, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street Global Advisors and a 1980 graduate of the Maxwell School with a B.A. in political science.

Gallo-Cruz is a senior research associate in the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration, where she co-directs the advocacy and activism research team. She is also a research affiliate for the Program on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Gallo-Cruz鈥檚 scholarly work has focused on gender, violence, non-violence and social movements in a comparative context. She recently edited 鈥淔eminism, Violence and Nonviolence鈥� (Edinburgh University Press, 2024) and authored 鈥淧olitical Invisibility and Mobilization: Women Against State Violence in Argentina, Yugoslavia, and Liberia鈥� (Routledge, 2021), which won the American Sociological Association鈥檚 Peace, War and Social Conflict section鈥檚 Outstanding Book Award. In 2021, she was honored as a Democracy Visiting Fellow with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and was awarded the Fulbright-Tampere University Scholar Award. Her current research focuses on comparative policy and legislative conflicts over climate change and human trafficking.

Carol Faulkner, senior associate dean for academic affairs, says Gallo-Cruz enhances the Maxwell School鈥檚 emphasis on research with a public impact. Faulkner praises Gallo-Cruz as an 鈥渙utstanding and internationally recognized scholar of social movements and policy change, who engages students around challenging issues facing the U.S. and the world.鈥�

Prior to joining Maxwell, Gallo-Cruz taught at the College of the Holy Cross and Emory University.

Story by Mikayla Melo

John Robinson

Robinson will help coordinate and scale the Workshop in Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities, while also serving as a member of its instructional team. The workshop is a non-credit microcredential program designed to empower people with disabilities to either become entrepreneurs or to be better prepared for employment.

Additionally, Robinson will collaborate with the University in developing and offering non-credit microcredentials aimed at educating potential employers on appropriate work environments and accommodations for employees with disabilities.

Through the College of Professional Studies, Robinson will assist the University in the development of funding for the continued offerings of these microcredentials.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� aims to become a global leader in the research and application of advanced technologies that can dismantle the professional boundaries and barriers experienced by people with disabilities,鈥� says Arthur Thomas, executive director of the Office of Microcredentials. 鈥淛ohn’s experience and background are essential to achieving that goal.鈥�

Creating Pathways for Accessible Education

A trailblazer in the architecture and entrepreneur industry, Steve Einhorn is dedicated to creating a more accessible campus. Previously, the family has supported the School of Architecture and made a naming gift to create the Einhorn Family Walk, which forever changed the footprint of 黑料不打烊. This latest gift builds on the Einhorn鈥檚 commitment to accessibility, which includes accessible online learning.

鈥淭he values that fuel this mission are baked into my DNA as an architect. As a trustee, we want to create a campus welcoming to all,鈥� Einhorn says. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is flourishing with entrepreneurial opportunities, and we need to create more space for the disability community.鈥�

Sherry and Steven L. Einhorn

Einhorn says the Workshop in Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities provides space to thoughtfully merge technology and AI with the curriculum. Additionally, the program creates opportunities for people with disabilities in the entrepreneur industry as well as potential partnerships throughout the local community.

鈥淭his is an educational opportunity to sharpen the skillsets for business development and produce more mentors. It is an honor to be a part of this initiative,鈥� says Einhorn.

The Workshop in Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities is part of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Inclusive Entrepreneurship Program, a pilot program that started two years ago and was originally funded through the support of New York State Senator John Mannion. The program has received additional state funding for the 2024-25 academic year.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to the Einhorn family for making John鈥檚 position possible, and to Senator Mannion for his ongoing support of inclusive education at 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Michael Frasciello, dean of the College of Professional Studies. 鈥淭ogether, we are creating more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to realize their potential.鈥�

About John Robinson

Robinson holds a B.S. in project management from the Newhouse School of Public Communications and an M.A. in disability studies from the CUNY School of Professional Studies.

Robinson serves as the CEO for Inc., a disability-owned platform dedicated to building employment opportunities for people with disabilities through technology. In 2015, Our Ability Inc. was presented with the Business Excellence Award in Small Business by the New York Small Business Development Corp and was also recognized in 2023 by the Zero Project as an Innovative Solution.

In 2013, Robinson was named one of the ten . Moreover, Robinson was presented with the Chamber Champion Award in 2023 in recognition of actions that have advanced the mission of the Capital Region (New York) Chamber.

Robinson is the author of the autobiography, “,” which reflects on his life as a quadruple amputee and the journey to his success. The book was adapted into a public television documentary titled “Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story” by .

To learn more about the Office of Microcredentials, visit .

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Beth and Steve Ballentine

When Steven 鈥淪teve鈥� W. Ballentine 鈥�83 recalls his years playing club volleyball at 黑料不打烊, he remembers the fun, comradery and deeply satisfying sense of belonging it created for him. He also remembers the challenges: 鈥淐lub sports didn鈥檛 receive University funding back then. I remember each of us on the team had to chip in $5 so we could travel to play at the University of Rochester. We brought our sleeping bags to my parents鈥� home and slept there when we travelled to Philadelphia.鈥�

Those memories helped lay the foundation for the most recent gift from Steve and his wife, Beth (Shuman) Ballentine 鈥�83, both of whom love sports and their alma mater. The nearly $2 million gift is part of the and will be used to create a dedicated field with lights for club sports and an endowed fund to support club sports programs and participants who might need help with fees, equipment and travel expenses.听 In recognition of this transformational gift, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Club Sports Program has been named the Ballentine Club Sports Program.

Steve, an investment advisor by profession, and Beth, a published writer and essayist, describe sports as 鈥渧ery important to us as a family,鈥� with both of them playing on sports teams throughout adulthood. Beth played on a women鈥檚 ice hockey team for nearly 20 years. Steve is a competitive tennis player. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made lifelong friends through sports,鈥� says Beth. 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 about physical health, connections with people and sisterhood.鈥�

The couple has also maintained strong connections to their alma mater through service and philanthropy. They provided lead gifts for the establishment of the Ballentine Investment Institute at the Whitman School of Management and have supported other initiatives in the and Athletics. Beth majored in advertising at the . Steve received a degree in business administration with dual majors in finance and accounting from the Whitman School, where he is a member of the Advisory Council. He has been a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees since 1998, currently serving on the Executive, Investment and Endowment and Athletics Committees.

鈥淪teve and Beth鈥檚 support will create an even more outstanding experience for the hundreds of students every year who find a place of belonging at 黑料不打烊 through club sports,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淭heir generosity will help nurture student success beyond the classroom. It will also encourage more students to integrate fitness, teamwork, and leadership into their Orange experience. I am grateful to the Ballentines for a gift that will improve students鈥� wellbeing and enhance the student experience.鈥�

As chair of the Board of Trustee鈥檚 Athletics Committee, Steve is especially appreciative of the impact athletics has on the student experience. 鈥淕rowing up, I played everything until I wasn鈥檛 good enough to play it at the varsity/JV level, then moved on to another sport鈥攆rom baseball and basketball to volleyball and bowling. There are so many young people like me who weren鈥檛 sports superstars, who played sports in high school and who really miss that part of their lives when they get to college. Finances can stand in their way of participating in club sports.听 Beth and I saw the need to address that.鈥�

There are currently 45 at the University, with more than 1,500 students participating. Most teams are 听organized by student leaders and supported by club sports staff in the Student Experience Division. The Ballentines met with student leaders of the club sport teams to better understand how their financial support could have the greatest impact.听 鈥淚t was an incredibly eye opening and impressive experience,鈥� says Steve. 鈥淭hey are entrepreneurial leaders, raising funds to book transportation for the teams, sharing ideas, learning from each other.鈥� Beth was impressed by their dedication to helping others and 鈥渆ssentially doing a part-time job for which they don鈥檛 get paid, while managing a full course load.鈥�

The Ballentine Club Sports Program Endowed Fund, established through this 听gift, will help ensure teams have the resources to enhance participation in post-season competition and playoffs and team leaders have the tools to manage their programs more effectively. 鈥淲e鈥檙e big on teaching someone to fish rather than just handing them the fish,鈥� says Steve. That idea was also foundational to the previous creation of , which provided students with the kinds of tools, training and resources to prepare them for a career in finance. Steve鈥檚 own career in the financial industry began as an equity analyst and portfolio manager for Prudential Life Insurance Co. of America. In 1989, he founded his own investment management firm, Ballentine Capital Management Inc.

The Ballentine Field for Club Sports will be located on South Campus on grounds that are across from the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion. 鈥淭here will be irrigation and lights, so players can practice or compete after classes, when the sun goes down,鈥� says Steve.

The Ballentines look forward to seeing the growth of club sports that present 鈥渁 huge opportunity for students from all walks of life to come together鈥� and excel beyond the classroom.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

Mike Tirico ’88, NBC’s voice of the Olympics, talks about getting ready for the games, his commitment to helping our young broadcast students and his love for 黑料不打烊.

When the Olympic Games begin later this month, one of the University鈥檚 best-known alums will be front and center. In many ways it鈥檚 a role Mike Tirico 鈥�88 knew he wanted at an early age.

鈥淢y mom will tell you, even as a little kid, I was walking around pretending to be a sportscaster,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his is what I wanted to do in life.鈥�

As the athletes prepare for competition, Tirico is preparing to anchor NBC鈥檚 daily Olympics coverage as he鈥檚 done since 2016. But as most broadcast fans know, Olympics studio host is only part of the Tirico portfolio, which includes 鈥淪unday Night Football,鈥� PGA golf, and thoroughbred and Indy racing among others. Those sports he knows well. This summer he鈥檒l be put to the test with new Olympic sports, all while trying to avoid making waves.

鈥淪urfing is happening in Tahiti at the Olympics, I put up my hand to volunteer to be the surfing correspondent,鈥� says Tirico, who adds with a smile that 鈥渇or some reason, they went with Colin Jost from 鈥楽aturday Night Live.鈥� I don’t know what I should read into that but it’s fine.鈥�

Break dancing is another sport new to the games and according to Tirico a sign of the athletic times. 鈥淚t does speak to what the Olympics does in trying to reach out to new generations and keep the youth of the world involved,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here was a time that snowboarding came in the Olympics and people were asking why. Now, snowboarding is one of the cornerstones of the Winter Olympics.鈥�

In this 鈥溾€機use Conversations鈥� podcast, Tirico talks about getting ready for the games, his sleep schedule while in Paris (it鈥檚 rough), his commitment to helping our young broadcast students and, as a first-generation student who met and married his wife here, his love for 黑料不打烊.

Check out podcast featuring Tirico. A transcript [PDF]听is also available.

What are your most memorable moments from the Games?

This would be the fifth Olympic Games I cover, the fourth as the primetime host and watching Americans win gold medals in person, those stick out for me. When we say the Olympics brings the world together, I don’t mean to be too Pollyanna about it because the Olympics are flawed in many ways, they are impacted by politics and corruption and all this stuff that’s happened, those stories have been well reported for years. But just the fact that there’s somebody in South Sudan who is training the same way somebody is training in South San Francisco for the same event and they get to meet in the middle and figure out who’s better, that’s still really freaking cool for me.

With 30 different Olympic sports and more than 10,000 athletes, and knowing your busy sports coverage schedule, how do you find the time to prepare?

Mike Tirico

If I’ve learned anything, it’s you can’t be prepared for everything at the Olympics. The key is to know how to access it and, oftentimes, that is our research team. The unheralded heroes of Olympic coverage for generations have been and continue to be the research teams who work year-round on the details of the competition.

In the lead up to it, it’s go over all the stuff so you know where it is but don’t memorize it because you can’t. You can’t know everything about each of the 10,000-plus athletes or every sport, all the 200-plus countries or delegations that will come down the river, in this case, the opening ceremony in France.

So, it is learn how to prepare for it and really focus in on the stuff we cover the most鈥攕wimming, 听gymnastics, track and field, basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer. Know that and then know the big athletes, the 50 or so that will become somewhat familiar names to households around America.

In many ways you are not starting from scratch here, are you?

You’re not starting from zero, you’re starting from, “Okay, I remember this in Tokyo and let’s just build on that.” And I think, during the years now as well, maybe I wouldn’t have been paying attention to the world swimming championships that were on, but now that I know this is my job and I’m getting ready for this Olympics, which gets you ready for the next one, you pay more attention. The global athletes, international athletes are on my radar way before I open up a book and say, “Okay, today is swimming day, let’s start cramming for swimming.” It helps significantly to have some gray hair in the chair.

Mike, you and I have been friends for many years, having worked together at WTVH in 黑料不打烊. If we could go back, what would you say to young Mike, the sportscaster at TV5?

I wish I could tell younger Mike to have a little broader view and be adventurous more. I think being adventurous as a journalist is impactful and I think, over time, we start to feel that a bit more. I think you know you’ve done the job, you’ve established yourself. It’s so hard to fake confidence but that’s what you have to do at an early age. I’m 21, 22, here I am trying to ask Jim Boeheim a question. Jim Boeheim, at that point, knew a thousand times more about basketball than I did and I’m trying to ask an impactful question and make a difference and I wish I would’ve had a little more ability to fake my confidence and get through that stuff back then. And that, if you’re prepared, you’re going to be all right and you don’t have to doubt yourself.

Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.

H. John Riley Jr.

On his journey from his first job in a corporate mailroom to the executive suite, H. John Riley Jr. 鈥�61 often credited the education and opportunities he received at 黑料不打烊 for his success. His gratitude shaped his approach to both service and philanthropy at his alma mater. Riley was still serving as a life trustee and co-chair of the Forever Orange Campaign and its $1.5 billion goal when he passed away on June 1, 2024, at the age of 83.

鈥淛ohn was incredibly thoughtful and generous in all things, including his support for 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淛ohn was committed to ensuring meaningful student experiences鈥攊n and out of the classroom鈥攚ere accessible to all 黑料不打烊 students. His philanthropy opened doors and carved paths of opportunity for engineering students to succeed in the business world, just as he had over his lifetime.鈥�

The 2017 endowed gift from John and Diane Riley establishing the H. John Riley Dual Degree Engineering/MBA Program was designed to give 黑料不打烊 students the opportunity to set themselves apart. Earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in engineering along with an MBA in five years prepares students to make an immediate impact.

鈥淛ohn recognized that successful business executives understand multiple disciplines and that it was important for students to have both theoretical and experiential learning in interdisciplinary ways of thinking,鈥� says J. Cole Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). Since the dual degree program鈥檚 inception, it has drawn high-achieving students to both ECS and the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and helped carve a path that was so important to Riley鈥檚 own career success.

Riley was the first in his family to go to college, an opportunity made possible with a scholarship from The Gifford Foundation. He was only 16 when he graduated as valedictorian from his high school. After four years of riding the bus from his parent鈥檚 home on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 North Side to campus and back, Riley earned a degree in industrial engineering. During college, he worked in the mail room of Crouse-Hinds, the electrical products manufacturing company that Riley once described as a 鈥渒ind of family affair.鈥� His father, three sisters and brother all worked there for a time.

Shortly after graduation, Riley entered a training program at General Electric, but eventually returned to Crouse-Hinds where he rose through the ranks, given more executive responsibilities as the company grew and acquired other firms. Riley, who also completed Harvard Business School鈥檚 Advanced Management Program, eventually became the CEO of Cooper Industries, the multi-billion-dollar parent of Crouse-Hinds. The Riley family moved to Houston, Texas, where Cooper was headquartered.

Still, the loyal alumnus never left 黑料不打烊 far behind. Riley was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as a voting trustee until 2016. He served on the Audit and Risk and Student Experience Committees and chaired the Student Experience Committee from 2008-2012. He also served as a lifetime member of the Whitman Advisory Council. In 2019, he was recognized with the Dritz Life Trustee Award. When he died he was serving as tri-chair of the National Campaign Executive Committee for the Forever Orange Campaign, alongside trustees Patricia Mautino 鈥�64, G鈥�66, and Michael Thonis 鈥�72.

鈥淛ohn was an exemplary alumnus and trustee,鈥� says Board Chairman Jeff Scruggs. 鈥淗e was laser-focused on ensuring that the University had the vision, guidance and resources to meet the evolving needs of our students, faculty and staff. He will be sorely missed.鈥�

At his funeral mass at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Houston, Riley鈥檚 daughter Beth recalled that her father never missed a Board meeting or an event at his alma mater. 鈥淗ow did he accomplish so much? Well, my dad had a no-nonsense way about him that cherished truth over fanfare, responsibility over impulsiveness, long-term value over short-term gain.鈥� She said he taught his children to be curious and empathetic, to 鈥渄o it once and do it right. He was a great man and lived a great life.鈥�

Throughout their marriage, Riley and his wife were generous in their time and financial contributions to many organization. They established the H. John and Diane M. Riley Family Fund when he retired in 2006, directing their philanthropy to education, health, welfare and civic improvement. Major beneficiaries include 黑料不打烊, the Women鈥檚 Home, Baylor Breast Center, Discovery Green, the Hobby Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Michael鈥檚 Catholic Church, YMCA of Martha鈥檚 Vineyard, the MV Preservation Trust, the MV Youth Scholarship fund and many others. The Rileys have chaired many major fundraising events: the United Negro College Fund, the Star of Hope, Houston Grand Opera, Ronald McDonald House and the Women鈥檚 Home.

The Rileys have supported many other initiatives at 黑料不打烊, including in ECS, the Whitman School, 黑料不打烊 Athletics and the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life. The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to

Riley is survived by his wife of 60 years, Diane; his daughter, Beth (Marcus) St. Raymond; Thomas (Dr. Lizabeth) Riley; and Patrick 鈥�90 (Beatrice) Riley; seven grandchildren, Emma and Charlotte St. Raymond; Matthew Riley, Megan Riley 鈥�24 and Tristan Riley 鈥�26; and John and Connor Riley.

The undergraduate representatives are Luwam Ghebremicael 鈥�25, a senior in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and German Alejandro Nolivos 鈥�26, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School. The graduate representative is Ava Breitbeck 鈥�22, a graduate student in the science teaching program in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the law student representative is Brett S. VanBuren L鈥�25, a third-year law student in the College of Law.

The new student representatives join current dean, faculty and staff representatives to the board, all of whom are serving out the second year of their two-year appointments. They are Michael Speaks, dean of the School of Architecture; Christine Ashby, professor of inclusive special education and disability studies and director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion in the School of Education; and Kathleen (Kati) Foley, project director and administrative assistant to the dean in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Each representative brings a unique voice to the board and its various committees, ensuring that the campus community is well-represented in the implementation of strategic objectives that support the University鈥檚 mission and vision.

Michael Speaks

Michael Speaks

Speaks was named dean of the School of Architecture in 2013. Previously, he was dean of the College of Design and professor of architecture at the University of Kentucky from 2008-13. As former director of the graduate program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, Speaks has taught in the graphic design department at the Yale School of Art, and in the architecture schools at Harvard University, Columbia University, The University of Michigan, UCLA, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and the Berlage Institute and TU Delft, in the Netherlands.

Speaks has published and lectured internationally on contemporary art, architecture, urban design and scenario planning. His accomplishments include the establishment of the Harry der Boghosian Endowed Fellowship Program for emerging professors in architecture, the Patrick Ahearn Workshops, the Design | Energy | Futures post-professional M.S. degree program and the Hal and Nina Fetner Architecture + Real Estate Summer Internship Program. In addition, Speaks established the China studies program, including studios in Beijing and Shanghai, the Three Cities Asia Summer Studio Program, a research partnership with the Institute Building Research in Shenzhen and a high school recruiting initiative. He also established a faculty and student exchange, research and project collaboration with Ewha Womans University, Yonsei University, Korea University, University of Seoul, Yeungnam University and Pusan National University in South Korea; and a scholarship program for overseas study in arts and design, organized by the Taiwan Ministry of Education. He was selected three times as a Design Intelligence Most Admired Educator and served as an advisory group member for the 黑料不打烊 Campus Framework and Campus Framework Refresh.

Speaks participates, ex officio, on the board鈥檚 Academic Affairs Committee and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Christine Ashby

Christine Ashby

Ashby is a professor of inclusive special education and disability studies and the director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion, a research center that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of school and society鈥攂oth locally and globally. She has also served as coordinator of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to certification in childhood and special education. Since joining the School of Education faculty in 2007, her teaching and research has focused on inclusive education, communicative diversity, disability studies and inclusive teacher preparation, with specific emphasis on the experiences of autistic and neurodivergent students. Her work seeks to disrupt dominant notions of disability as deficiency and underscores the importance of centering the voices of disabled people in research and practice.

Ashby earned an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo and a master鈥檚 in special education, certificate of advanced study in disability studies and Ph.D. in special education from 黑料不打烊.听She was an inclusive special education teacher before beginning her university career. Ashby served as co-chair of the Public Impact Working Group for the Academic Strategic Plan and was a member of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate from 2018 to 2023. She was also selected as a member of the inaugural Women in Leadership cohort.

Ashby participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs Committee and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Kati Foley

Kati Foley

As project director and administrative assistant to the dean, Foley is responsible for administering strategic projects for the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and directing the daily operations of the Office of the Dean and the college. She provides high-level analyses and recommendations on facility utilization, strategic budget and long-range planning, policies, programs and new and ongoing initiatives for the college.

Prior to joining VPA in 2007, Foley worked at the Maxwell School for 10 years, managing the U.S. office of the Luxembourg Income Study, headquartered at the University of Luxembourg. This cross-national data center acquires datasets with income, wealth, employment and demographic data from many high- and middle-income countries, harmonizes them to enable cross-national comparisons, and makes them publicly available to researchers.

Foley earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from Ithaca College. Foley participates, ex officio, on the board鈥檚 Advancement and External Affairs Committee and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Luwam Ghebremicael 鈥�25

Luwam Ghebremicael

Ghebremicael is a rising senior in the Maxwell School, majoring in political science and policy studies on a pre-law track. A first-generation student, she has been actively involved in various roles, including president of the African Student Union, peer educator with Community Standards, resident advisor, director of Multicultural Affairs, First Year Seminar peer leader and a Dimensions Intern. Her passions lie in embracing her identity, engaging with communities and bringing diverse perspectives to the table.

Ghebremicael serves as one of two undergraduate student representatives for the 2024-25 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

German Alejandro Nolivos 鈥�26

German Alejandro Nolivos

Born and raised in Venezuela, Nolivos is a first-generation college student who settled in Florida after fleeing the socio-political turmoil in his homeland. Currently, in his junior year, he is pursuing a dual major in political science and public relations in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School. A recipient of the Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership scholarship, he currently serves as president of the Student Association.

Previously, his roles included president of the Naranjas Spanish Club, student senator in the University Senate, vice president of Community and Government Affairs within the Student Association, and student representative on the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Association Board of Directors. His professional journey includes internships with such organizations as Telemundo, NBCUniversal, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Recognized for his dedication to diversity and inclusion, he was honored with the 44 Stars of Excellence Award by the Office of Student Engagement in spring 2024.

Nolivos participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Ava Breitbeck 鈥�22

Ava Breitbeck

Breitbeck is a graduate student in the science teaching program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Specifically, she conducts research into how the public forms attitudes about science, both inside and outside the classroom. She works as a teaching assistant in the Department of Physics and as a graduate intern in the Office of Admissions. She served as a student representative to the Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee for the 2022-2023 academic year. Originally from 黑料不打烊, Breitbeck holds bachelor’s degrees in physics and political science from 黑料不打烊. Outside of 黑料不打烊, she is an event supervisor for the New York State Science Olympiad organization.

Breitbeck serves as the graduate student representative to the board for the 2024-25 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the board鈥檚 Academic Affairs and the Student Experience committees and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Brett S. VanBuren L鈥�25

Brett S. VanBuren

Brett S. VanBuren is a third-year law student in the College of Law and is receiving a certificate of advanced study in national security and counterterrorism law in addition to his juris doctor. He was recently elected president of the Corporate Law Society at the college, where he is a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society and won the 2024 Entertainment and Sports Law Arbitration Competition. He also serves as a procedural advisor for undergraduate students during conduct investigations. Additionally, VanBuren is the business editor of the 黑料不打烊 Journal of International Law and Commerce. VanBuren spent the summer of 2023 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with the United States Army as a Judge Advocate General’s Corp (JAG) intern; he is serving again as a JAG intern during the summer of 2024 with the Southern European Task Force – Africa, located in Vicenza, Italy. During the 2022-2023 academic year, he served as class president for the Student Bar Association.

Prior to coming to 黑料不打烊, VanBuren had a three-year career in the advertising industry with a focus on finance. His undergraduate degree is in history from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

VanBuren serves as the law student representative to the board for the 2024-25 academic year. He participates, ex officio, on the board鈥檚 Academic Affairs and the Student Experience Committees and reports to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

鈥淲e are excited to welcome these new trustees, all of whom have a connection to the Orange community either though their personal experiences or through their families,鈥� says Board Chair Jeff Scruggs. 鈥淭hey have each demonstrated extraordinary vision and expertise in their different fields of interest, and we look forward to their insights and service to our students and the continued growth of the University.鈥�

鈥淥ur trustees express their dedication in so many different ways,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淭hey share their wisdom, their experiences and their generosity of time, talent and treasure in ensuring that we deliver on the promises we make to our students to prepare them for success. The newest trustees are joining a board that works collaboratively and effectively to strengthen our university.鈥�

Nomi Bergman

Nomi Bergman

Bergman is a senior executive at Advance and president of Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership, a subsidiary of Advance. Throughout her career, she has been an executive, investor and advisor in the communications and emerging technology space with a focus on transforming the customer experience.

Bergman also recently served as interim CEO of 1010data, a technology platform provider of decision science, data management and data analytics that was owned by the Advance/Newhouse Investment Partnership and acquired by SymphonyAI. Previously, Bergman was president of Bright House Networks and helped lead the company to become the sixth-largest cable operator in the nation. She and her team provided corporate guidance, execution and oversight of technology, product and strategic partnerships across the company鈥檚 video, broadband, voice and wireless platforms.

Bergman currently serves on the board of directors for Advance鈥檚 growth investment HawkEye360. In addition, she is on the boards of Visteon and Black & Veatch, and was honored to serve as a Comcast board member. She is involved with several industry and nonprofit organizations; as a member of the FCC Technological Advisory Council, The Marconi Society, Adaptive Spirit and Bridging Voice.

She received the National Cable & Telecommunications Association鈥檚 Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership in 2008. In 2011, she was recognized with Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) highest honor, Woman of the Year.

Bergman earned a B.A. in economics and statistics from the University of Rochester in 1985. Growing up in 黑料不打烊, her association with 黑料不打烊 runs deep. Her father, Bob Miron 鈥�59, is a Martin J. Whitman School of Management alumnus and a life trustee. Her husband, Neal, is a 1981 graduate of the Whitman School. Bergman herself has served on the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Dean鈥檚 Leadership Council and taught part-time as an adjunct professor. She is working to complete her own 黑料不打烊 degree, as she is enrolled in the Whitman School鈥檚 online MBA program.

Bergman lives in Fayetteville, New York, with her husband. They have three adult children, Becca (Hayworth), Dori and Allison.

Brian D. Grossman

Brian D. Grossman

Grossman is managing partner and chief investment officer for San Francisco-based PFM Health Sciences, a $1.6 billion health care focused investment advisor. The firm is one of the longest tenured public market life science investment funds, which focuses broadly across health sciences from small biotech firms to large global pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics companies.听The firm also has a long history of investing in hospitals, health insurance and other businesses involved in providing medical services.

Grossman was a founding member of Partner Fund Management (PFM), which started operations in the fall of 2004. Prior to PFM, Grossman spent time as an investment analyst at Andor Capital (2001-2004) and Pequot Capital (2001) where he focused primarily on the biotech industry. He started his career in 1996 at J.P. Morgan Investment in the summer of 1996.

A graduate of economics from the University of Pennsylvania, Grossman grew up in 黑料不打烊 and has strong familial ties to 黑料不打烊. His grandfather Lionel O. Grossman L鈥�1916; his father, Murray Grossman 鈥�43, G鈥�45 (College of Medicine); and his uncle Richard D. Grossman 鈥�51, L鈥�55 all attended the University as undergraduates, with his grandfather, uncle and sister Sarah going on to graduate from the College of Law. His father, Murray, provided medical services for many years to the athletics department, for which he was later recognized in 2016 with a Letterwinner of Distinction Award.

Grossman now lives in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife, Elizabeth, and three children: Brady, Zoe and Sylvie. He currently serves as co-chair of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health Executive Council, which evaluates business strategies, operations and financial performance for UCSF Health. The Grossmans are active philanthropically in their community, supporting the S.F. Ballet, Planned Parenthood, The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Tipping Point and their children鈥檚 schools.

Stephen H. Hagerty 鈥�91, G鈥�93

Stephen H. Hagerty

Hagerty is a management consultant, entrepreneur and civic leader. He is the founder and president of Hagerty Consulting, one of the nation鈥檚 leading emergency management consulting firms that help governments, schools, hospitals, businesses and other large organizations prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. Between 2017 and 2021, he served as the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, successfully leading the city through a global pandemic and social unrest. As a result of his leadership, Evanston had one of the lowest infection and fatality rates in the state and one of the highest vaccination rates.听Soon after leaving office, Evanston was named an All-American City in 2021 by the National Civic League.

Hagerty has successfully helped manage the recovery efforts from major U.S. disasters, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the California wildfires. Before starting his firm in 2001, Hagerty worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for eight years building a disaster recovery practice.

Hagerty earned a B.S. degree from the College for Human Development (now the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics) in consumer studies and went on to earn an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He has served on the Maxwell Advisory Board since 2014.

Together with his wife, Lisa Altenbernd G鈥�93, they established the 听in 2022, the Stephen Hagerty and Lisa Altenbernd Faculty Fellow Fund in 2018 and the William D. Duncombe Faculty Research Endowment in 2014. Hagerty and Altenbernd reside in Evanston, Illinois, with their two children, Caroline, a junior at Washington University in St. Louis, and Garrett, a sophomore at Evanston Township High School.

Allegra F. Ivey G鈥�99

Allegra F. Ivey

Ivey is a managing director at BofA Securities Inc. She has served as a public finance investment banker in the municipal banking and markets division for 15 years, primarily covering large cities, such as New York, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans.

During her 25-year career, Ivey worked for PaineWebber Inc. (which became UBS Financial Services), J.P. Morgan and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. She has helped state and local governments nationwide finance over $40 billion in infrastructure projects, including airports, toll roads and water and sewer facilities, among others.

Ivey earned a master鈥檚 in public administration from the Maxwell School, where she has served on the advisory board since 2017. She inspired other Maxwell graduates when she delivered the keynote speech at the 2018 convocation.

Ivey came to 黑料不打烊 after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from Harvard University in 1997. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Matthew Brennan, and their four children, Tiernan (TJ), Ellison (Ellie), Kellan and Braden.

Jeannine L. Lostritto 鈥�90

Jeannine L. Lostritto

Lostritto parlayed her interest in architecture into her professional, personal and volunteer experiences, most recently in her engagement with the board of trustees of Friends Academy in Locust Valley, New York, an independent Quaker college-preparatory private school serving early childhood through 12th grade.

A former Friends Academy parent, Lostritto serves as a member of its board of trustees and on its Governance Committee, and helps oversee new building construction, maintenance of the campus and existing buildings as clerk of the Buildings and Grounds Committee.

With an undergraduate degree from the School of Architecture, she first took a job as an architectural consultant at Avis Rent-a-Car and on commercial architecture projects. From 1995 to 1998, Lostritto was employed in the civil engineering division at Sear-Brown鈥攁n architecture, engineering, planning and construction services firm鈥攚here she worked on large highway and expressway projects, such as the renovation of the Queens Midtown Tunnel, as well as drainage and landscape architecture projects.

She is currently a board member of her family鈥檚 real estate company, Steel Equities and is a member of the Board of Regents at NYU-Winthrop Hospital. Additionally, she and her husband, Glenn, actively support 黑料不打烊 through contributions to such initiatives as the Barnes Center at The Arch and the General Supported Scholarship Fund. She is also a member of the School of Architecture Advisory Board.

Lostritto lives in Old Brookville New York, with her husband. They have three children, Domenica 鈥淪unny鈥� L鈥�23, Glenn Jr. and Joseph.

Kirthiga U. Reddy G鈥�95

Kirthiga Reddy

Reddy is an听entrepreneur and听investor who has been at the helm of technology-driven transformations in innovative companies. She is CEO and co-founder of Virtualness, a mobile-first platform to help creators and brands navigate the complex world of Web3, and use听the power of generative AI and blockchain. She is a听founding investment partner of f7 Ventures,听whose mission is听鈥淏old Women Investing in Bold Ventures.鈥� She is co-founder of Liftery, a听social impact听initiative focused on working mothers.

Previously, she was the first female investment partner at SoftBank Investment Advisers focused on frontier, enterprise and health tech investments. She was managing director for Facebook India and South Asia and then became managing global partner听and emerging markets lead for global accounts in markets, including Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and Middle East.听She has also held engineering and product executive听roles at听of Phoenix Technologies, Motorola and听Silicon Graphics听Inc.

Reddy earned a master鈥檚 degree in computer engineering from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and later earned an MBA from Stanford University. She served on the ECS Dean鈥檚 Leadership Council for several years and has established the Kirthiga Reddy Graduate Scholarship in ECS.

Reddy lives in Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband, Dev G鈥�94, who also attended the College of Engineering and Computer Science. They have two adult children, Ashna and Ariya.

A gift from Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20 and his wife, Gayle, will support construction of a new chapel and renovations to modernize and expand the Catholic Center at 110 Walnut Place. From left are Chancellor Kent Syverud; Daniel D鈥橝niello; Pete Sala, vice president and chief campus facilities officer; and Luke Radel ’26.

With a ceremonial shovel and breaking of the ground, a new chapter in the history of Catholic ministry at 黑料不打烊 is being written, thanks to a transformational gift from philanthropist, life trustee and dedicated alumnus Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20 and his wife, Gayle.

Part of the , the D鈥橝niellos鈥� newest gift will support construction of a new chapel and renovations to modernize and expand the Catholic Center at 110 Walnut Place. Land is currently being cleared for the building of the new St. Thomas More Chapel at the corner of East Adams and Walnut Place.

鈥淒an continues to be a devout 黑料不打烊 supporter whose kindness to our students knows no bounds,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淗is impact is felt and visible all around our University, from our main campus in 黑料不打烊 to our campus in Florence, Italy. Dan鈥檚 philanthropy has allowed us to strengthen our commitment to veterans, enhance the student experience both on campus and abroad, and now, build a more vibrant spiritual community. This new gift enhances our ability to be a University welcoming to all, including to students of all faiths, by providing an expanded and modern space to come together, worship and serve the community.鈥�

Chancellor Kent Syverud and Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20

D鈥橝niello has often spoken about his own upbringing in an Italian Catholic family, steeped in tradition and faith. Growing up, he was an altar server and sang in the church choir, experiences that led to faith-based giving becoming a central pillar in his philanthropy.

鈥淚 admire the way in which 黑料不打烊 supports the spiritual needs and nurtures the moral and ethical development of students,鈥� says D鈥橝niello. 鈥淔aith in God has always been a guiding principal in my life and I am proud to support the new Catholic Center and chapel; a gathering place for our catholic students to support them and their faith while at 黑料不打烊.鈥�

The Catholic chaplaincy is one of 15 housed in Hendricks Chapel, which also supports 25 student-led religious and spiritual life groups, and hosts more than 2,000 programs each year, many of which are responsive to student engagement at the Catholic Center.

鈥淭he 鈥機use Catholic community has grown dramatically over the last several years, with significantly increased attendance at worship services and growing student interest in activities hosted at the Catholic Center in service of the broader 黑料不打烊 community,鈥� says Fr. Gerry Waterman, who was appointed to his position as Catholic chaplain in 2016. 鈥淚 am deeply grateful to Dan D鈥橝niello for supporting the spiritual growth of our students in an environment that serves to deepen their religious understanding, their relationship with God and their desire to help others in the community.鈥�

Waterman notes that the unprecedented interest in Catholic ministry services has necessitated additional seating to accommodate increased attendance. 鈥淓ach folding chair we鈥檝e had to add, and the long lines at post-Mass Thursday dinners and Sunday brunch gatherings, demonstrate that our 鈥機use Catholics find strength in fellowship.鈥�

The presence of a Catholic ministry at the University to 1908 with the formation of the first Brownson Club, the predecessor to the Newman Club. Today, the Catholic Center includes a vibrant group of servant leaders composed of students who are dedicated to service and who offer study groups, retreats and mission trip experiences to enrich spiritual development.

D鈥橝niello is a co-founder and chairman emeritus of Carlyle. Prior to forming Carlyle in 1987, D鈥橝niello was the vice president for finance and development at Marriott Corporation for eight years. Before joining Marriott, D鈥橝niello was a financial officer at PepsiCo Inc. and Trans World Airlines. D鈥橝niello served in the United States Navy from 1968 through 1971 during which time he was a Distinguished Naval Graduate of Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, a supply officer (LTJG) aboard the USS Wasp (CVS 18); and in 2016, D鈥橝niello was awarded the designation of Lone Sailor by the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation.

D鈥橝niello is a 1968 magna cum laude graduate of 黑料不打烊, where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, and a 1974 graduate of the Harvard Business School, where he was a Teagle Foundation Fellow.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

Michael Falcone

Michael 鈥淢ike鈥� Falcone 鈥�57 often said he was of entrepreneurs, and when he passed away on April 10, 2024, accolades poured in for the man who helped develop millions of square feet of office buildings, shopping centers, assisted living centers, hotels and urban mixed used projects throughout the nation.

, representing thousands of companies, chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations, observed his 鈥減assion for the state鈥檚 business community and vision for growing the economy.鈥�

(OHA) had previously honored the Falcone family with the OHA Medal Award, noting a 鈥済enerational legacy of entrepreneurship that literally and figuratively built the 黑料不打烊 community.鈥�

Falcone was also deeply committed to his alma mater. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in real estate from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and carved a career in real estate development that impacted the University (building graduate student housing at an early point in his career) and its surroundings. He served the Board of Trustees as a voting trustee from 1995 to 2009, and later as a life trustee participant on the Board Facilities Committee. Falcone was also a member on the Whitman School of Management Advisory Council. In 1992, he was awarded the Whitman School鈥檚 Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year.

Well before he attended 黑料不打烊, at the age of 16, Falcone began a real estate career, inspired by his family鈥檚 successes in business. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 surprise me to learn that Mike was the youngest licensed real estate salesman in New York state,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淗e loved developing and enhancing communities, and he was dedicated to the idea of inspiring that kind of passion in future generations of students.鈥�

He and his late wife, Noreen, were fundamental to the creation of the Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises program. They established the Michael J. Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and the Michael J. Falcone Endowment Fund for Entrepreneurship and were early supporters of the Whitman School鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program.

Falcone鈥檚 goal was to boost entrepreneurial activity on campus and in the region, providing funding for a center that provides valuable resources and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. The Falcone family also created the Falcone Chair in Real Estate.

Falcone was an influential real estate developer throughout Upstate New York spanning from the early 1960s. In his early years as a real estate broker for Egan Real Estate in 黑料不打烊, he started buying small rental properties, improving them, and eventually selling them. After serving in the Air Force Reserve, he began purchasing and redeveloping shopping centers throughout Upstate New York. In 1969, he and classmate Robert Congel from Christian Brothers Academy formed the Pyramid Companies, building shopping centers, warehouses, office buildings and student apartments throughout the Northeast.

Less than a decade later, Falcone started his own development company, the Pioneer Group, the predecessor to today鈥檚 , a property management and development company headquartered in 黑料不打烊 whose projects have included master-planned industrial parks, stand-alone rehabilitation centers, new-urbanist living communities, suburban office parks, downtown office buildings, high-rise mixed-use developments, lifestyle shopping centers and various senior housing and hospitality products. After stepping back from his role as chairman, Falcone became chairman emeritus, described by the company as an 鈥渆ngaged advisor on our existing portfolio as well as new investment opportunities.鈥�

Falcone and his wife, Noreen, who died in May 2021, were well-known throughout 黑料不打烊 and Skaneateles because of their civic involvement and philanthropy. They lived most of their lives together in Central New York, and, for many years, had a home in North Palm Beach, Florida, where Falcone passed away. They took great pleasure in grape-growing and wine-making through their involvement in Hobbit Hollow Vineyard in Skaneateles, which grows Pinot Noir and Riesling grapes and serves as a grower for Heart & Hands Wine Company, Union Springs, New York, among others.

Their portfolio of philanthropic initiatives include the David B. Falk College听of Sport and Human Dynamics, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the WAER public media organization. They also supported Le Moyne College, Christian Brothers Academy, Skaneateles Festival, The Skaneateles Lake Association, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, The Everson Museum, Catholic Diocese of 黑料不打烊, 黑料不打烊 Symphony and Opera, and Francis House.

Some of Michael鈥檚 awards include the 黑料不打烊 Mayor鈥檚 Achievement Award, the Boy Power Distinguished Citizen Award, Temple Adath Yeshurun Citizen of the Year Award and the Post-Standard Achievement Award.

Falcone (who was known to his closest friends as Mickey) was also an avid traveler, hunter, golfer, skier (he skied into his 80s) and could be seen often rowing his Adirondack boat on Skaneateles Lake.听 He was also an enthusiastic fan of horse racing.

Falcone is survived by his children听Michael,听Mark, Michelle and Melissa; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Three of his grandchildren are 黑料不打烊 alumni: Olivia L. Falcone 鈥�14 (College of Arts and Sciences), Michael J. Falcone 鈥�15 (Falk College) and Gabriella Drumm听鈥�22 (College of Arts and Sciences).

Bernard “Bernie” Kossar

鈥淏ernie Kossar was really one of the smartest people I have ever known,鈥� said Chancellor Kent Syverud, recalling the esteemed 黑料不打烊 and College of Law graduate, trustee, advisor, engaged alumnus and generous philanthropist. 鈥淏ernie鈥檚 IQ was so high and, with persistence, it was what kept opening up opportunities for him; but it was really his EQ, his emotional intelligence, that made him great, that made him most successful in my view. Bernie was a great judge of people.鈥�

Syverud conveyed his thoughts at a memorial service for Kossar, who passed away at the age of 91 on April 10, 2024. Over many decades, Kossar had forged a legacy of innovation, leadership and generosity. He was recalled as an extraordinary individual with an unmatched work ethic, fierce loyalty to friends and important causes, and a born entrepreneur who was always willing to help others, especially his alma mater.

Kossar majored in accounting, graduating with a B.S. from the Martin J. Whitman School of Management in 1953 and earned a J.D. from the College of Law in 1955. 鈥淭he combination of a strong business undergraduate degree, especially focusing on accounting and finance, mixed with a solid legal education equips you for almost anything and everything,鈥� Kossar said in an interview for the College of Law鈥檚 , in explaining both his 鈥減roprietary interest鈥� in his alma mater and his sense of responsibility to be supportive and engaged.

He served on the University Board of Trustees Advancement and External Affairs and Finance Committees as a life trustee participant. He was a voting trustee from 2000-2012 and chair of the Budget Committee from 2003-2006. In 2013, he received the Dritz Life Trustee of the Year Award. He was also a member of the Whitman Advisory Council, serving as its chair for 13 years. In 1996, he was the recipient of the University’s Outstanding Alumni Award. He was a member of the College of Law鈥檚 Board of Advisors and a member of the Society of Fellows.

In 2023, he received the first-ever Dean鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Award, an honor created by College of Law Dean Craig Boise to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding alumni.听 鈥淏ernie achieved so much in his professional life, and yet he was very involved in giving back and helping succeeding generations earn their own accomplishments,鈥� said Boise.

It was his legal education that set the stage for extraordinary success in business. 鈥淚n law school, you learn how to think, how to evaluate and come to an informed judgement. The greatest thing you get out of law school is learning how to take an analytical approach to a problem, to tax your brain to get to the depth of the issue and understand it,鈥� said Kossar. After passing the bar, he served in the Marine Corps with a two-year active commitment. While practicing law upon his return, he attended New York University Law School at night to earn a master鈥檚 in tax law.

Working at the New York City-based law firm of Van Buren, Schreiber, and Kaplan, Kossar focused on the complexities of corporate law, eventually becoming indispensable to one of his clients, Franklin Stores Corporation. He ended up working full-time for the expansive New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)-listed company, and it was his legal acumen and business sense that earned him the responsibilities and title of president and chief operating officer.

After his tenure there, he strengthened other corporations, becoming the president and COO of Vornado, a NYSE-listed company engaged in retail and real estate holdings. He was special advisor to the chairman and CEO of Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company before joining W.R. Grace & Company as senior vice president. At W.R. Grace & Co., Kossar served as senior vice president of seven retail companies. During this time, Kossar created HQ Home Quarters Warehouse, which he eventually purchased from W.R. Grace. As its president and chief executive officer, Kossar negotiated a highly profitable sale of HQ in 1988. That same year, he founded OW Office Warehouse Inc., an office supply superstore chain; six years later, OW was sold to OfficeMax at a substantial profit. Thereafter, Kossar founded Millennium Partners, LLLP, a private investment partnership focused on public and private investment opportunities.

Kossar鈥檚 grandson, Michael Kossar 鈥�13, co-managed Millennium Partners with his grandfather, along with another private investment partnership, the Kossar Family LLLP. Michael was a finance major at the Whitman School, and credits his grandfather for teaching him that success in business is about building relationships and loyal friendships. 鈥淢y grandfather instilled in me that it鈥檚 all about the people that surround you. He cared about everyone, every employee, accountant and lawyer. He may have started as a caboose on the train, but he ended up at the head of the train and everyone followed him.鈥�

Kossar and his wife of more than 70 years, Carol Karetzky Kossar 鈥�53 (College of Arts and Sciences), impacted countless lives with their philanthropy. At 黑料不打烊, they established the Bernard R. Kossar Endowed Scholarship, and generously supported other initiatives in the College of Law, Whitman School, College of Arts and Sciences, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Other philanthropic endeavors included the Tel Aviv Foundation, the Kossar-Karetzky Park and the Kossar-Karetzky Senior Center.

Kossar once described philanthropy as a 鈥渟elfish endeavor,鈥� adding 鈥淚 have derived more pleasure and more satisfaction and more good feelings from some of the good things that we鈥檝e done. I鈥檝e had payback beyond belief.鈥�

Kossar is survived by his wife, Carol, their daughters听Stephanie Kossar Stuart and Valerie Lise Kossar, grandchildren Michael and Ariana Kossar Cohn 鈥�16, and great-grandchildren Blaine Monroe Kossar and Juliette Kossar Cohn.

Lisa Fontenelli

The Whitman School of Management is proud to announce that Lisa Fontenelli 鈥�86 (Whitman School/S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) will be the school’s Class of 2024 convocation speaker. Fontenelli retired in 2017 as partner and managing director of Goldman Sachs, a world-renowned investment bank. She is a University Trustee and was chair of the Whitman Advisory Council for several years. Her support of Whitman has focused on experiential learning opportunities with an emphasis on immersive experiences in New York City.

During her decorated career, Fontenelli was global head of securities research and deputy head of the Global Investment Research Division, overseeing all equity and credit research globally. After starting her career in equity securities sales and research, she was named a Goldman partner in 2006 and served on the firm鈥檚 partnership committee.

Fontenelli holds an honorary doctorate of business administration from Georgian Court University, where she served as a trustee for 12 years, and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Misericordia University. These honors were awarded for her long-standing philanthropic support of the educational mission of the Sisters of Mercy, including initiatives around the world that provide educational opportunities for young women to build skills in critical thinking, leadership, collaboration and philanthropy. Throughout her career, Fontenelli has mentored many on the path of management and leadership development.

鈥淲e are delighted to have Lisa Fontenelli speak with our graduating class this year. This is the first convocation speaker that Whitman has had in some time, and Lisa brings a wealth of experience from a variety of global leadership roles,” says Alex McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School. “She has been very active in providing advice and support to Whitman and 黑料不打烊 and has a strong understanding of the current challenges graduating students face. She has sage advice about motivation, value creation and what it means to be Orange. I think her message will resonate well with the graduating class.”

The convocation for the Whitman School is Saturday, May 11, at 4 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Judith Seinfeld.

Seinfeld is the fourth-generation head of Heritage Management Company LLC, a long-standing real estate investment, development and management company based in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Before joining Heritage, Seinfeld was the founder and president of Judith Greenberg Gallery, a jewelry design company, and she was also an executive vice president at Balenciaga Perfumes. A longtime patron of the arts, Seinfeld is the co-founder of the Nantucket Comedy Festival and the producer of several Tony award-winning plays.

Seinfeld earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 , and a master鈥檚 degree in administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1957. In addition to her current role as a life trustee participant on the Academic Affairs committee, Seinfeld’s service to the University includes previous positions on the boards of the School of Education and the . Her service also includes assisting in establishing the Seinfeld Housing Initiative, the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Distinguished Fellowships and the Judith Greenberg Seinfeld Prize for Creative Teaching Endowment.

Seinfeld resides in Saddle River, New Jersey, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, and is the mother of Jeffrey Greenberg and the late Steven Greenberg.

For more information on the celebration, visit the

Hilton Als, writer at The New Yorker; Jim Boeheim 鈥�66, G鈥�73, former 黑料不打烊 men鈥檚 basketball coach and special assistant to the director of athletics; husband and wife, William 鈥淏ill鈥� Brodsky 鈥�65, L鈥�68, chairman of a specialized investment firm and an investment management firm, and Joan Breier Brodsky 鈥�67, G鈥�68, a National Museum and Library Services Board member; and Lynn Conway, inventor of methods for designing Very Large Scale Integrated silicon chips, will be honored for their outstanding achievements in their professional careers and the difference they have made in the lives of others.

Hilton Als
Doctor of Letters

Hilton Als (Photo credit: Ali Smith)

Als is an award-winning journalist, critic and curator. He has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1994. Prior to The New Yorker, Als was a staff writer for the Village Voice and an editor-at-large at Vibe. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism (2017), Yale鈥檚 Windham-Campbell Literature Prize (2016), the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism (2002-03) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2000).

His first book, 鈥淭he Women,鈥� was published in 1996. His next book, 鈥淲hite Girls,鈥� was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the winner of the Lambda Literary Award in 2014. His most recent book, 鈥淢y Pinup,鈥� a meditation on love and of loss, of Prince and of desire, was published in November 2022.

In 2017, he curated the critically lauded exhibition 鈥淎lice Neel, Uptown,鈥� which traveled from David Zwirner, New York, to Victoria Miro, London and Venice. In 2019, Als presented 鈥淕od Made My Face: A Collective Portrait of James Baldwin鈥� at David Zwirner, New York, followed by Frank Moore at, David Zwirner, New York (2021) and Toni Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏lack Book,鈥� at David Zwirner, New York (2022). He curated a series of three successive exhibitions for the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, of the work of Celia Paul (2018), Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (2019) and Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2022). In 2022, he curated 鈥淛oan Didion: What She Means鈥� at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, which traveled to the Perez Art Museum Miami in 2023. He curated Jared Buckhiester 鈥淣o heaven, no how,鈥� which opened March 2024 at the David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles.

Als is currently a teaching professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and has also taught at Columbia University’s School of the Arts, Princeton University, Wesleyan University and the Yale School of Drama.

Jim Boeheim 鈥�66, G鈥�73
Doctor of Humane Letters

Jim Boeheim

Hall of Fame member Jim Boeheim had a remarkable run as head coach at his alma mater, 黑料不打烊. Boeheim guided the Orange to winning records in 46 of 47 campaigns. 黑料不打烊 made 35 trips into the NCAA Tournament, including Final Four appearances in 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013 and 2016. The Orange won the national championship in 2003. Boeheim retired from coaching after the 2023 season but continues to work for the University.

Boeheim was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also honored with the John R. Wooden 鈥淟egends of Coaching鈥� Award.

Boeheim enrolled at 黑料不打烊 in 1962 and was a walk-on with the basketball team. The Orange were 22-6 overall his senior year and earned the program鈥檚 second-ever NCAA Tournament berth. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a master鈥檚 from the Maxwell School. In 1969 he turned to a career in coaching and was hired as a graduate assistant at 黑料不打烊. In 1976, he was named head coach.

A four-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Boeheim has been honored as NABC District II Coach of the Year 10 times and USBWA District II Coach of the Year on four occasions. In the fall of 2000, he received 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Arents Award, the school鈥檚 highest alumni honor.

Boeheim was named 2001 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year. He has served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic teams that won gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016, and the World Cup in 2010 and 2014.

A champion of many charitable causes, Boeheim and his wife started the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation with the goal of enriching the lives of kids in need.

Joan Breier Brodsky 鈥�67, G鈥�68
Doctor of Humane Letters

Joan Breier Brodsky (Photo credit: Richard Shay)

Joan Brodsky graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1967 with a bachelor’s in Latin language and literature and went on to graduate from the School of Information Studies (formerly the School of Library Science) in 1968 with a master of science degree.

Joan is passionate and knowledgeable about rare book and cultural heritage conservation and has been active nationally for many years, including sitting on the board of the Newberry Library in Chicago, as a Trustee for the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, as well as the library advisory board of the Jewish Theological Seminary. She also served on the Advisory Board for the School of Information Studies and has been a member of the 黑料不打烊 Libraries Advisory Board since its founding.

In 2022, Joan was appointed by President Joe Biden to the National Museum and Library Services Board, which advises the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the largest federal funder of America鈥檚 museums, libraries and related organizations through grantmaking, research and policy development.

At 黑料不打烊, she is the founder and sponsor of the Brodsky Series for Advancement of Library Conservation. This sponsored program promotes and advances knowledge of library conservation theory, practice and application among wide audiences, both on campus, in the region and now online. This is an annual lecture series and workshop on book and paper conservation now in its 19th year.

In 2022, she and her husband Bill, a 黑料不打烊 life trustee, funded the Conservation Lab in the Bird library and the Joan Breier Brodsky Media Preservation Vault in honor of Joan’s commitment to the preservation and conservation at the Bird Library.

Joan and Bill have been married for 57 years and reside in Chicago.

William 鈥淏ill鈥� Brodsky 鈥�65, L鈥�68
Doctor of Laws

William 鈥淏ill鈥� Brodsky (Photo credit: Richard Shay)

Bill is chairman of Cedar Street Asset Management, LLC, an investment management firm devoted to investing in equity securities in international markets, and chairman of Bosun Asset Management, a specialized investment firm.

During his combined 35-year career at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), he was recognized as a global leader in the development of the future and options markets. His contributions to Chicago鈥檚 futures and options markets were a major factor in Chicago鈥檚 becoming the world鈥檚 preeminent city for the futures and options markets.

Bill served as chairman of the CBOE Holdings Inc. now known as CBOE Global Markets and its predecessor firms between 1997 and 2017. He also served as the chief executive officer of the CBOE from 1997 to 2013. During his CBOE tenure, he served as the chairman of the World Federation of Exchanges and the International Options Market Association. From 1985 to 1997, he was president and CEO at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

Bill, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School and a law degree from the College of Law, began his career in 1968 at the Wall Street-based investment banking and securities brokerage firm of Model, Roland and Co. Inc. In 1974, he joined the American Stock Exchange and ultimately was executive vice president for operations.

In 1982, he became executive vice president and chief operating officer of the CME. In 1985, he was appointed president and CEO of the CME.

In 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker named him to co-chair the newly formed State鈥檚 Pension Consolidation Feasibility Task Force. In 2022, he was inducted into 鈥淭he Order of Lincoln,鈥� the state鈥檚 highest honor for professional achievement and public service.

Brodsky is chair emeritus of the board of directors of Navy Pier Inc., one of Chicago’s most iconic cultural destinations, and past chair of the board of directors of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Brodsky was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2022 to the Board of Directors of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which maintains a special reserve fund authorized by Congress to help investors at failed brokerage firms.

Lynn Conway
Doctor of Science

Lynn Conway

Conway is a renowned computer scientist who revolutionized global information technology by inventing methods for designing Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) silicon chips. Her work paved the way for the powerful microchips that animate modern high-technology systems.

As a young engineer at IBM Research in the 1960s, Conway made pioneering innovations in computer architecture. Sadly, IBM fired her in 1968 upon learning she was undergoing gender transition. She restarted her career in a new identity in 鈥渟tealth-mode鈥� after completing her transition.

While working at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970s, Conway innovated breakthrough methods that enabled engineers to design very powerful, complex chips. In 1980, Conway鈥檚 seminal textbook 鈥�Introduction to VLSI Systems,鈥� co-authored by Caltech Professor Carver Mead, became an instant classic, forever transforming computing and information technology. Professor John V. Oldfield brought the new VLSI methods into 黑料不打烊 right at the beginning of that revolution.

In the early 1980s, Conway became assistant director for strategic computing at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In 1985 she joined the University of Michigan as professor of electrical engineering and computer science and associate dean of engineering.

When nearing retirement in 1999 she began quietly coming out as a trans woman, using her new to share her story with friends and colleagues. Conway became active in transgender advocacy.

In 2012 Conway published a that revealed how鈥攃loseted and hidden behind the scenes鈥攕he conceived the ideas and orchestrated the events that disruptively changed global industries.

Conway is a life fellow of the IEEE, fellow of the AAAS, winner of Computer Pioneer Award of the IEEE Computer Society, member of the Hall of Fellows of the Computer History Museum, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and holds five honorary degrees. In 2023 she was inducted into the for the invention of VLSI. She was awarded the by the and the .

In 2020, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna on behalf of the company for back in 1968. the IBM Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from several student organizations who will be , enjoy a spirited awards ceremony hosted by student Nicole Aponte 鈥�24 and mingle with honorees and each other during a reception following the ceremony.

Get to know the outstanding alumni across generations who will be honored April 12 during the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Awards.

Traditionally held in the fall during Orange Central, the 2024 awards ceremony was shifted to the spring to facilitate greater interactions between award recipients and the 黑料不打烊 student body. The honorees, selected by the awards committee of the Board of Directors, were selected for their achievements and success, truly highlighting what it means to be Forever Orange.

The George Arents Award is 黑料不打烊鈥檚 highest alumni honor and recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields. In 2024, three alumni will receive the Arents Award: former NFL quarterback turned philanthropist Donovan McNabb 鈥�98; president and chairman of Wilmorite Thomas Wilmot 鈥�70; and former litigation attorney turned civic leader Melanie Gray L鈥�81.

Marc Malfitano 鈥�74, L鈥�78 will receive the Melvin A. Eggers Senior Alumni Award for his loyalty and service to 黑料不打烊 over the past 50 years. Malfitano is a member of the 50th reunion class, and both the Classes of 1964 and 1974 will celebrate milestone reunions during the weekend.

Amanda Quick 鈥�14, G鈥�16 will be awarded the Generation Orange Award, which recognizes graduates from the past decade for career success and community engagement, along with their overall commitment to 黑料不打烊.

Major General Peggy Combs 鈥�85, H鈥�21 will receive the Military/Veteran Award for exceptional meritorious service while serving in the United States Military.

New in 2024, Tracy Barash 鈥�89 will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award in recognition of her consistent volunteerism to 黑料不打烊.

Also new in 2024, the Outstanding Future Alumni Award will highlight student Leondra Tyler 鈥�24 for her commitment, involvement and leadership outside of the classroom.

, then make plans to .

Story by Laura Verzegnassi 鈥�25, student intern in the Office of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving

Doris 鈥淒ottie鈥� Payson

Doris 鈥淒ottie鈥� Payson 鈥�57 first parlayed a bachelor鈥檚 degree in education from 黑料不打烊 into a teaching career in the Brooklyn School District. But her passion for travel and learning about the wonders of the world led to her second career in the travel industry, serving clients at Jeffrey鈥檚 World of Travel, Ltd. in Great Neck, New York.

Payson passed away on Feb. 12, 2024, at the age of 87. She was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 2000 and served as a voting trustee until 2012. She was co-chair of the Academic Affairs Committee from 2003-07, and continued to be engaged in that committee and the Facilities Committee as a life trustee.

Payson鈥檚 service to 黑料不打烊 went far beyond the Board of Trustees. She was an alumni representative for the Office of Admissions for nearly two decades. Payson also served on the Metropolitan New York and advisory boards and was co-chair of the National Campaign Council for the Commitment to Learning Campaign, a multi-year capital campaign launched in the 1990s.

After graduating from the , Payson earned a master鈥檚 degree in history from Columbia University and enrolled in New York University鈥檚 Law School, but took a break from her law studies to raise a family. While parenting, she taught in the Long Island School System.

Payson鈥檚 philanthropic endeavors included the , the Maxwell School (where a scholarship fund is set up in honor of her parents David and Tillie Greenberg) and the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center.

Payson and her husband, Martin, a renowned media executive and former vice chairman of Time Warner Inc., set up the Martin and Doris Payson Foundation. They had a fund dedicated to supporting the New York Jewish Film Festival. Dottie Payson also served on the boards of the United Jewish Appeal and Yivo Institute for Jewish Research, and the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

It was her love of the arts and international travel that drew her to the travel agency business where she served an impressive array of clients and earned the description, 鈥渢ravel agent extraordinaire.鈥� She is her husband of 63 years and their children Michele Rosenfield, Leslie and Eric Payson; grandchildren Benjamin, Simon and Daniel Rosenfield; and son-in-law Mark Rosenfield.

Vernon L. Lee Jr.

It鈥檚 a love story that began at Hendricks Chapel, where Vernon L. Lee Jr. first met Marcia L. Heath. Both undergraduates, they raised their voices in song together, worshipped together and, six days after they both graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 1954, they married. Their devotion to each other and to the Orange Community lasted a lifetime and beyond鈥攊n the establishment of the Marcia 鈥�54 and Vernon 鈥�54 Lee Endowed Fund for Hendricks Chapel.

The Reverend Vernon LaMont 鈥淏onky鈥� Lee Jr. was 92 when he passed away on Dec. 10, 2023. He had served as a voting trustee on the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1989, when he became a life trustee. He also served on the Hendricks Chapel Advisory Board.

鈥淰ernon was a valued trustee and supporter of 黑料不打烊 for decades,鈥� Chancellor Kent Syverud says. 鈥淚 am so grateful for his life and work.鈥�

Lee earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in speech and drama from the College of Arts and Sciences followed by a master鈥檚 degree in theology from the Boston University School of Theology in 1957. He began as a pastor in 1957, advancing to the position of superintendent of the Elmira District of the Methodist Church in New York. Lee also had served as executive director of the church鈥檚 Central New York Conference, headquartered in 黑料不打烊. In retirement, he had been a senior consultant to the United Methodist Frontier Foundation Inc.

It is noteworthy that the Methodist leader was so dedicated to and engaged with his alma mater, a university that was initially founded by resolution of the Methodist State Convention in 黑料不打烊 in 1870. “Reverend Lee embodied the dynamic relationship between faith and learning,鈥� says the Rev. Brian E. Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. 鈥淭hrough his lifelong commitment to mission and ministry, Vernon truly lived the famous quote by Methodist theologian John Wesley: 鈥楧o all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.鈥欌€�

鈥淭o be on the receiving end of Rev. Lee’s kindness and wisdom was an honor. Though 黑料不打烊 is no longer affiliated with the Methodist Church, leaders such as Vernon help to ensure that the spirit and soul of our campus community will remain strong for generations to come,” says Konkol. Lee鈥檚 ministry mentor was Charles Noble who was the dean of Hendricks Chapel when he and Marcia were students. The endowed fund set up by the couple was created 鈥渢o initiate, support and/or enhance programs that fulfill the mission of Hendricks Chapel.鈥� Konkol says it provides support for students in need, and creates opportunities for student engagement.

As a Methodist pastor in the Central New York Conference, Lee served churches in Watkins Glen, 黑料不打烊, Auburn, Geneva and Elmira. In later years, he became district superintendent for Elmira, and subsequently conference executive. He completed his active ministry at the United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, New York.

Lee was a member of the United Methodist Frontier Foundation鈥檚 Board of Directors, serving New York and Connecticut. He was past president of the Board of Directors of the Folts Foundation Inc. in Herkimer, New York; past chair of the Board of Trustees of Alban at Duke Divinity School (formerly The Alban Institute in Herndon, Virginia); and past president of The Rotary Club of 黑料不打烊.

He and his wife Marcia, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the School of Education, were also generous supporters of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 黑料不打烊 Athletics and 黑料不打烊 Libraries.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marcia, two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Life Trustee Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20 receives the keys to the city of Florence, Italy, from Mayor Dario Nardella.

Alumnus, philanthropist and Life Trustee Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20 was recently celebrated by the city of Florence, Italy, for his dedication to the city and his support of the 黑料不打烊 Abroad program in Florence. In a ceremony hosted by the mayor of Florence, D鈥橝niello was presented with the keys to the city. University leadership, students, faculty and staff and local dignitaries attended the ceremony on Oct. 19 in the city鈥檚 town hall, Palazzo Vecchio.

鈥淲e are honored to open this ceremony in Palazzo Vecchio to give you the keys of the city, which is a sign of our friendship鈥攐ur way to say to you thank you for your love and for your passion for our city, for our community,鈥� Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, said.

D鈥橝niello, an alumnus of the Florence abroad program, has recalled his time in Florence as some of the most memorable of his college career and his recent support of the program and future generations of students reflects his deep connection.

In 2022, D鈥橝niello and his wife, Gayle, donated $10 million toward significantly enhancing the . The gift will expand opportunities for students, attract exceptional faculty and improve facilities. It will also dramatically expand scholarship funding for whom study abroad programs have been out of reach, including student veterans, lower-income students and post-traditional students.

Life Trustee Daniel D鈥橝niello 鈥�68, H鈥�20 (third from left) was celebrated by the city of Florence, Italy, for his dedication to the city and his support of the 黑料不打烊 Abroad program in Florence. From left are Chancellor Kent Syverud; Sasha Perugini, director of 黑料不打烊 Florence; D’Aniello; Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence; Consigliere Regionale Cristina Giachi; and Assessore Elisabetta Meucci.

In honor of the couple鈥檚 gift, the program was renamed the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello 黑料不打烊 Program in Florence. The Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Florence Program is located on Piazza Savanarola, at the historic Villa Rossa, with additional spaces for studio art and architecture on nearby Donatello Square.

The couple also has funded a scholarship for four military-connected students to spend a semester studying in Florence. The Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Endowed Florence Scholarship will provide substantial financial support to the students. As part of the celebration activities, D鈥橝niello visited with student veterans who are studying in Florence with support from the endowed scholarship.

鈥淢any tens of thousands of 黑料不打烊 alumni have come to truly understand and to love this place, no one more so than Dan D鈥橝niello,鈥� Chancellor Kent Syverud said at the ceremony. 鈥淚 also need to say thank you for giving back both to Florence and 黑料不打烊 and particularly to the next generation so the next generation of students can love this city as you do.鈥�

Chancellor Syverud explained the importance of D鈥橝niello鈥檚 support of the Florence program. 鈥淗is gift is going to enable us to update the Villa Rossa and other University facilities in Florence. It鈥檚 going to help expand our programs, our faculty, our curriculum in Florence,鈥� Chancellor Syverud said. 鈥淎nd most important it鈥檚 going to enable students who cannot afford to study in Florence to study abroad to receive scholarships to be here in Florence, and specifically scholarships for those who served in the U.S. armed forces and their families.鈥�

After accepting the keys to the city during the ceremony, D鈥橝niello spoke in Italian about how much the honor meant to him and how it was with 鈥済reat joy鈥� that he was returning to the city he loved. His time there as a student coincided with the great flood in 1966. The disastrous flood deluged churches, libraries and museums, containing art and historical works, with mud. Residents and young people traveling the European continent and studying in Florence, including D鈥橝niello, helped rescue the priceless artifacts.

鈥淎lthough I have visited this wonderful city many times over the years, my mind keeps taking me back to November 1966 and the great flood. To this day, I am still in awe of the heroic will of the Florentine people to overcome a disaster of such magnitude and to save and restore the Cradle of the Renaissance and the priceless iconic works of Western civilization,鈥� said D鈥橝niello, co-founder and chair emeritus of The Carlyle Group. 鈥淥f all the titles I have received throughout my life I will forever cherish the title of 鈥楳ud Angel.’鈥�

鈥淔lorence, through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 study abroad program, has given me more than I can ever repay, so helping to provide more young students with an unforgettable experience is a small gesture of my appreciation,鈥� D鈥橝niello said. 鈥淢y roots are 100% Italian, and my relatives in heaven and on Earth are smiling right now. I have no words to express my gratitude for the honor of receiving the keys to this beloved city.鈥�

When he had heard of D鈥橝niello鈥檚 commitment to the 黑料不打烊 Abroad Florence program, which has been in existence for more than 60 years, Nardella said he understood more about the importance of the legacy of 黑料不打烊 and its generations of alumni.

鈥淭his alumni community is an incredibly big family,鈥� Nardella said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� I think is the oldest American university in our city. You are pioneers and after your decision to establish an important campus in our city, many other universities decided to follow you, to follow your example.鈥�

Following the ceremony, the mayor invited those in attendance to his office, a unique part of Palazzo Vecchio, which is decorated with frescoes and tiled floor designs.

Following the ceremony in which Daniel D鈥橝niello (at right) received the keys to the city of Florence, the mayor invited those in attendance to his office, a unique part of Palazzo Vecchio, which is decorated with frescoes and tiled floor designs.

Christine Ashby, professor of inclusive special education and disability studies and director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion, has been named faculty representative to the board by the provost, in consultation with the University Senate Academic Affairs Committee. Speaks, Foley and Ashby will all serve two-year terms.

In addition, four new student representatives to the board have also been named: Dylan France 鈥�24 and William Treloar 鈥�24, undergraduate student representatives; Qingyang Liu, graduate student representative; and Nathanael Linton, law student representative.

These representatives of the campus community bring diverse backgrounds and insights to the Board and its various committees and will be vital voices in helping the University implement strategic objectives in support of its mission and vision.

Faculty and Staff Appointments 听

Michael Speaks, Academic Dean Representative to the Board

Michael Speaks

Before joining 黑料不打烊, Speaks was dean of the College of Design and professor of architecture at the University of Kentucky from 2008-13. As former director of the graduate program at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, Speaks has taught in the graphic design department at the Yale School of Art, and in the architecture schools at Harvard University, Columbia University, The University of Michigan, UCLA, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and the Berlage Institute and TU Delft, in the Netherlands.

Speaks has published and lectured internationally on contemporary art, architecture, urban design and scenario planning. His essays and exhibitions in the 1990s were among the first to introduce a new generation of Dutch architects and planners to a broader audience in North America. He has also played an important role in recent debates about city branding and alternative models of city planning, authoring a series of essays and advisory studies, as well as overseeing scenario studies commissioned by city and regional governments in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Speaks is serving the first year of a two-year term as academic dean representative during the 2023-24 academic year. He participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs Committee and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Christine Ashby, Faculty Representative to the Board

Christine Ashby

Ashby is a professor of inclusive special education and disability studies and the director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion, a research center that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of school and society鈥攂oth locally and globally. She has also served as coordinator of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to certification in childhood and special education. Since joining the School of Education faculty in 2007, her teaching and research has focused on inclusive education, communicative diversity, disability studies and inclusive teacher preparation, with specific emphasis on the experiences of autistic and neurodivergent students. Her work seeks to disrupt dominant notions of disability as deficiency and underscores the importance of centering the voices of disabled people in research and practice.

Ashby earned an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo and a master鈥檚 in special education, certificate of advanced study in disability studies and Ph.D. in special education from 黑料不打烊.听She was an inclusive special education teacher before beginning her university career.

Ashby recently served as co-chair of the Public Impact Working Group for the Academic Strategic Plan and was a member of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate from 2018 to 2023. She was also selected as a member of the inaugural Women in Leadership cohort.

Ashby is serving the first year of a two-year term as faculty representative during the 2023-24 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs Committee and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Kati Foley, Staff Representative to the Board

Kati Foley

As project director and administrative assistant to the dean, Foley is responsible for administering strategic projects for the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) and directing the daily operations of the Office of the Dean and the college. She provides high-level analyses and recommendations on facility utilization, strategic budget and long-range planning, policies, programs and new and ongoing initiatives for the college.

Prior to joining VPA in 2007, Foley worked at the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs for 10 years, managing the U.S. office of the Luxembourg Income Study, headquartered at the University of Luxembourg. This cross-national data center acquires datasets with income, wealth, employment and demographic data from many high- and middle-income countries, harmonizes them to enable cross-national comparisons, and makes them publicly available to researchers.

Foley earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English from Ithaca College.

Foley will serve the first year of her two-year term as the staff representative during the 2023-24 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the Board of Advancement and External Affairs Committee and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Student Appointments 听

Dylan France, Undergraduate Representative to the Board

Dylan France

France is a senior studying finance and real estate in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, where she is a Whitman Leadership Scholar and a member of the 听Ren茅e Crown Honors Program. She is minoring in global political economy in the Maxwell School. France is passionate about finance and was recently promoted to senior analyst in the Orange Value Fund.

Beyond her schoolwork, France is an active member of the 黑料不打烊 community. She previously served as the president, internal secretary and a founding 黑料不打烊 Black Student Union member. She is involved in the 黑料不打烊 Student Association as comptroller and a University Senate member. In these capacities, France acts as a voice for her fellow students and advocates for change. She believes in financial reporting and transparency and is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives and creating equitable University policies.

France serves as one of two undergraduate student representatives for the 2023-24 academic year, her second year in the role. She participates, ex officio, on the Board Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

William Treloar, Undergraduate Representative to the Board

William Treloar

Treloar is a senior studying economics and policy studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School and is currently the president of the Student Association. Treloar previously served as speaker of the assembly for the Student Association. He is also a class tutor and a Phanstiel Scholar. In his time at 黑料不打烊, he has focused on organizing campus events, as well as community service opportunities.

Treloar serves as one of two undergraduate student representatives for the 2023-24 academic year. He participates, ex officio, on the Board Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Qingyang Liu, Graduate Representative to the Board

Qingyang Liu

Liu is a graduate student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She was elected as the graduate student representative to the HDFS Graduate Committee and Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics Promotion and Tenure Committee in 2022-23. Liu is an international student from Guangzhou, China, who pursued an undergraduate degree in psychology at San Francisco State University from 2016-18 and a master’s degree in educational psychology and methodology at the State University of New York at Albany from 2018-20. She is conducting research in Professor Rachel Razza鈥檚 SELF Regulation lab with a focus on examining the longitudinal association between early poverty and the developmental trajectory of self-regulation within cognitive, social and emotional domains from early childhood to adolescence.

Liu serves as the graduate student representative for the 2023-24 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs and Enrollment and the Student Experience committees and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Nathanael Linton, Law Student Representative to the Board

Nathanael Linton

Linton is a third-year law student in the College of Law. There he is a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society, both the national trial competition team as well as the appellate competition team. He is also a research assistant to Professor William C. Banks. He is the managing editor of the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations. Before coming to the College of Law, Linton served on the Board of Trustees at his undergraduate college, Pace University. There, he served on the Academic Affairs subcommittee. His board obligations were accompanied by several other leadership responsibilities, including serving as the honors college president and student representative of the Northeast Regional Honors Council.

Linton serves as the law student representative for the 2023-24 academic year. He participates, ex officio, on the Board Academic Affairs and Enrollment and the Student Experience Committees and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Gill

The Orange Innovation Fund is a concept to commercialization seed fund for student research initiatives emerging from the Blackstone LaunchPad and other campus innovation programs. The fund is designed to help move student research, scholarly or creative projects from ideation to proof of concept and commercialization by helping overcome some financial barriers students face.

The program will be administered through 黑料不打烊 Libraries, in collaboration with the University鈥檚 existing research and commercialization programs such as the , the , , , the , the at 黑料不打烊, , , the (NYSTAR designated Center for Advanced Technology) and the . Applicants can also come through research classes, labs or independent study programs across the University.

“It’s been wonderful to see 黑料不打烊’s Blackstone Launchpad and its other innovation programs be so enthusiastically embraced by students across all disciplines. I hope this new fund will help remove any barriers student entrepreneurs might encounter as they develop their products for market. The U.S. economy depends on the tenacity of entrepreneurs to keep its edge,” says Gill. The Orange Innovation Fund supports the University鈥檚 goal to distinguish 黑料不打烊 for excellence in research, scholarship, student experiential learning and innovation.

鈥淲e are so grateful for Raj-Ann鈥檚 commitment to 黑料不打烊, the Libraries and most importantly to the students we serve,鈥� said David Seaman, dean of 黑料不打烊 Libraries and university librarian. 鈥淭hrough her generosity, students will have the opportunity to apply for grants that will help bring their ideas to fruition, removing barriers to development of their products, services, technology and creativity.鈥�

Each semester graduate and undergraduate students engaged in commercialization projects will have an opportunity to apply for grants up to $5,000 per award, with a total of up to $50,000 per academic year awarded over five years.

Applicants must identify specific tangible needs related to the development of a product, service, technology or creative work in the discovery, testing, building and/or launching of their initiative. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend two proposal/grant writing workshops on Sept. 13 and 14 at 3 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons in Bird Library. The workshops will be offered by Linda Dickerson Hartsock, advisor, strategic initiatives at 黑料不打烊 Libraries, and former founding director of the Blackstone LaunchPad.

The first application round will close Sept. 29. Applications for funding will be directed to the Libraries and reviewed by a cross-campus committee. For additional information email听 orangeinnovation@syr.edu.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

Motivated by a deep belief in the power of the humanities, Sutton demonstrated how wealth could be used to benefit society in diverse and creative ways. Through his generosity to 黑料不打烊, he had a profound impact on the reputation of the and advanced the careers of some of the nation鈥檚 brightest philosophy scholars.

Sutton passed away on May 31, 2023, in his home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, at the age of 90.

A graduate of the New York City public schools, Sutton received a bachelor’s degree from the Maxwell School at 黑料不打烊, an MBA from New York University鈥檚 Stern School of Business and served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer. Sutton began his career at the investment firm of Francis I. du Pont & Co. and worked for more than 40 years in the financial services industry. He worked at the firms of Gartman, Rose and Feuer and Percy Friedlander & Company; was a partner at David J. Greene & Company, responsible for much of Greene & Co鈥檚 institutional business and held the title of partner in charge of advisory accounts; and a partner at Neuberger Berman. Sutton served as a member of the advisory board of Ameritech as well as being an advisor on many other pension plans.

He served his alma mater in multiple ways. Sutton was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1990 and was a voting trustee until 2013, and was chair of the Board鈥檚 Endowment Committee.听He served on the Executive Committee of the $300 million听Commitment to Learning Campaign听and helping to establish the Metropolitan New York Advisory Board, which he later chaired.

Together with his 听wife, Anita 鈥�60, an alumna of the College of Arts and Sciences, Sutton established the Anita and Allan D. Sutton Endowed Distinguished Chair in Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences. Ben Bradley, a prominent philosophy scholar who was named the inaugural chair in 2014, commented that the Suttons鈥� philanthropy served 鈥渁s a reminder that the humanities are not only a critical piece of a solid liberal arts education, but more importantly a central part of society.鈥�

The Suttons also funded a three-year postdoctoral fellowship that involved the Distinguished Faculty Fellow teaching two courses per year. have gone on to prominent careers in the field, teaching at universities like Georgetown, Yeshiva, Yale, Michigan and elsewhere.

The Suttons also established the Richard H. Mazer Memorial Fund to support LightWork and generously supported other initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Law, the Maxwell School, 黑料不打烊 Athletics and the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center.

Sutton served on numerous arts and business boards, including those of the U.S. Association for International Migration, the Association of Ameritech, the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego and The Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

He is survived by his wife and their children,听Nancy Sutton Finley and Peggy Lynn Sutton 鈥�90 (S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications) and three grandchildren, including grandson Zachary Sutton Finley G鈥�17 (Maxwell School).

Michael Wohl

Today, it all makes sense for a man who built a successful career by meeting the needs of the less fortunate. Wohl co-founded Pinnacle Housing Group in 1997, which came to be recognized as the leading producer of affordable housing in the southeastern United States, creating homes for countless families across three states.

鈥淚鈥檓 very passionate about affordable housing and providing for the workforce, for the elderly and for those transitioning out of homelessness,鈥� says Wohl, who is now a principal in Coral Rock Development Group LLC, a real estate investment firm focused on mixed-use developments that help communities prosper. One of its most recent projects is in North Miami, Florida, where a new affordable housing complex will feature 138 apartments. 鈥淭he fact is that this form of real estate development is a very lucrative business and it has allowed me to engage in philanthropy. What is better than doing well by doing good?鈥�

Real estate investment has allowed Wohl to invest in the future of others, especially students at 黑料不打烊 and its College of Law. Wohl has invested his own 鈥渢ime, treasure and talent鈥� in the development of the campus, its programs and services, and its students. He served on the College of Law鈥檚 Board of Advisors; is a Life Trustee of the University; was a driving force behind the development of the Barnes Center (the connecting lobby is named for Michael and his wife, Betty) and the development of Dineen Hall; provided support for the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic at the College of Law; funded the Sheila and Alfred Wohl Dining Center at the Winnick Hillel Center for Jewish Life in honor of his parents and the Alfred Wohl 鈥�34 Lacrosse Field behind Manley Field House; and supports the academic success of promising students through the Alfred Wohl Memorial Law Scholarship funds. His daughter, Heather Wohl Herzberg 鈥�12 has carried on the family tradition of philanthropy, naming the Dean鈥檚 Suite at Falk College.

Wohl says that investing in law students pays lasting dividends because so many of them go on to contribute to their communities (and to the college) after graduation. In a letter of thanks to Wohl, one scholarship recipient wrote: 鈥淭he College of Law has provided me with a number of incredible opportunities to grow as an aspiring attorney and, more importantly, as a person. I am incredibly grateful. I hope that one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals, just as you have done for me.鈥�

Just as his father set an example for him, Wohl says his philanthropy is motivated by a deep desire to show others 鈥渨hat you can do with your education, your life, your background and your affiliation with 黑料不打烊.鈥�

When he majored in sociology as an undergraduate, focusing on the study and dynamics of small groups, Wohl had no idea how it would come to serve him in his career. 鈥淎ll of my business involves dealing with groups of people, recognizing the dynamics and understanding how to utilize those dynamics to achieve success.鈥�

Similarly, Wohl entered law school with an open mind for knowledge and no predisposition to any particular aspect of the law. He recognized the usefulness of a broad legal education. 鈥淚 knew that law school was going to be a huge stretch for me in terms of academics and discipline. I wasn鈥檛 like many of my classmates who had the scales of justice hanging above their cribs, destined to be lawyers. I did not. But I had a tremendous sense of the value of my law school education,鈥� says Wohl. 鈥淭he skill sets that you acquire鈥攈aving the ability to dissect material, to reason and think logically, to speak publicly, to stand up and advocate for a position. These are invaluable in business and in life鈥攁nd they came from my law school experience.鈥�

College of Law Dean Craig M. Boise says it is Wohl鈥檚 sensitivity and vision for how a legal education can amplify any career that makes him such a valuable advisor, engaged alumnus and philanthropist. 鈥淢ichael is supportive of initiatives that make the College of Law more relevant and contemporary in meeting the needs of students and ensuring that their education enhances their professional opportunities. He has taken many of our graduates under his wing and helped them succeed beyond the college.鈥�

As his father before him, Wohl used his law degree to excel in the real estate business. Alfred Wohl 鈥�34 consulted in the construction of apartment houses, commercial buildings, industrial buildings, shopping centers and post office buildings. As his success increased, so did his generosity. 鈥淢y father started some amazing things,鈥� says a very proud son. 鈥淗e founded the largest boys and girls club in the United States, in Queens, and he was co-founder of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, the place where the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered.鈥�

When his father passed away, Wohl was in charge of managing his estate and assets, which included a lot of apartment developments in Manhattan. That鈥檚 when he really fell in love with the real estate business and saw the value of his legal training. He structured sales that ultimately reaped huge benefits for his estate. In the 1990s, there were a lot of distressed properties for sale. Wohl seized the moment and the momentum. 鈥淚 built my first affordable housing complex in the Little Havana area of Miami, and the 35 units sold out quickly,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淎gain, what is better than doing well by doing good?鈥�

The business of affordable housing not only aligned well with the philanthropic legacy of his father, it also 鈥減layed into my social consciousness, if you will, that grew out of my academic experiences and being a child of the 60s.鈥� Wohl was at Woodstock in the infamous summer of 1969, just as his 黑料不打烊 student experience was being shaped.

鈥淢usic had a profound influence on me in the 1960s and 1970s,鈥� reflects Wohl. 鈥淧erhaps the most beautiful lyric ever written came from the Beatles: 鈥楢nd in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.鈥欌€�

A fitting phrase for a man who has created opportunities for so many through the love of giving.

All of the newly appointed trustees have also made a significant impact on students at their alma mater through volunteerism, guest lecturing, mentoring, philanthropy and strengthening the web of alumni support for graduates.

鈥淲e are so pleased to welcome these three new members to the board and grateful for their time and experience as they contribute to the 黑料不打烊 community in new and meaningful ways,鈥� says Scruggs, whose selection as Board chair-elect was announced in November 2022. 鈥淭here is a lot of important work ahead and I have no doubt that, together with our existing Trustees, our newest members will help the University advance and achieve its ambitious goals.鈥�

Chancellor Kent Syverud says he is looking forward to working with the new members and with Scruggs, who will serve as chair through May 2027. 鈥淪ince his appointment to the Board five years ago, Jeff has made a tremendous impact, bringing both financial acumen and a passion for diversity and equity initiatives that create opportunity and a truly welcoming environment for all,鈥� Chancellor Syverud says. 鈥淗is new fellow Trustees also bring fresh perspectives and a commitment to creating a university where students can thrive and succeed personally and professionally.鈥�

Jeff Scruggs

Scruggs

Scruggs is a highly respected member of the global finance community, serving as a managing director at Goldman Sachs, where he is head of the public sector and infrastructure banking group within the Global Banking and Markets division. Prior to joining Goldman in 2008, Scruggs worked for PaineWebber Inc. (which became UBS Financial Services) for almost 20 years.

Scruggs is deeply connected to 黑料不打烊 through his father, Dr. Otey Scruggs, who taught history in the for 25 years. Shortly after his father died, Scruggs was named to the Board of Trustees and became a leading voice on issues related to finance and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Scruggs鈥� history of service to the Board includes engagement on the Free Speech Trustee Advisory Group, Finance Committee, Special Committee on University Climate, Diversity and Inclusion, Advisory Committee on University Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, and Steam Station Ad Hoc Workgroup. He is also a member of the Maxwell School Advisory Board. In 2020, he received the Dritz Rookie Trustee of the Year Award for outstanding Board service.

He and his wife, Robbin Mitchell, have provided lead gifts for the establishment of the Otey and Barbara Scruggs Maxwell School Scholarship, the Otey and Barbara Scruggs History Fund and the Otey and Barbara Scruggs Scholarship. They have also supported initiatives at the Maxwell School and the Barnes Center at The Arch.

Jeff and Robbin have two children, a son and daughter, and live in Manhattan.

Peter Gianesini Jr. 鈥�94

Gianesini

Peter 鈥淧ete鈥� Gianesini has worked for ESPN for more than 25 years, starting as a part-time production assistant and rising to become its current senior director, digital audio programming. He oversees content and operations for ESPN鈥檚 podcast portfolio and managed several popular radio shows, including 鈥淭he Mike Tirico Podcast鈥� featuring fellow esteemed alumnus and Trustee Mike Tirico 鈥�88.

Before ESPN, he was a producer at WRCH/WZMX in Hartford, Connecticut, and an on-air anchor and producer for WHEN AM/FM in 黑料不打烊. He has also been involved in supporting ESPN鈥檚 partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research as a longtime member of the V Week Committee and the ESPY Day Auction since its inception.

Gianesini earned a B.S. in broadcast journalism from the , and remains involved as an alumnus with the radio station that helped shape his career, . He gives guest lectures to classes and mentors students from Newhouse and WAER through work-shadowing opportunities, resume review sessions and career advice.

Gianesini is actively engaged with the Alumni Club of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and joined the Board of Directors in 2019. He currently serves as its president-elect and previously chaired the Clubs Committee. He is a committee member for the National Campaign Council, representing regional alumni clubs.

Gianesini lives in Central Connecticut with his wife, Julie, and daughter, Isabelle.

Richard M. Jones 鈥�92, G鈥�95, L鈥�95

Jones

Richard 鈥淩ich鈥� Jones serves as executive vice president, general tax counsel and chief veteran officer for Paramount Global, overseeing worldwide tax planning, structuring, treasury, strategy, operations, litigation and legislative matters for the company, along with all veteran-related initiatives and programming for Paramount.

Prior to joining Viacom in 2005 (ViacomCBS changed its name to Paramount Global in 2022), Jones was vice president, senior tax counsel and assistant treasurer for General Electric (NBCUniversal). Before joining General Electric in 2003, he spent more than a decade as both a certified public accountant and tax lawyer with Ernst & Young, as a leader in its media and entertainment and transaction advisory services practices. He also served as a law clerk for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, in the chambers of the Honorable Judge John P. Balio.

Jones was a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, where he served honorably as a member of the 10th Mountain Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment. He is a frequent and noted lecturer for Bloomberg and the Practising Law Institute where he is a member of the faculty. He is admitted to practice before the courts of New York, Connecticut and the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He earned a B.S. degree and an M.S. degree in accounting from the , with honors, and a J.D. from the College of Law, with honors. In addition, Jones holds a 1998 LL.M. degree from Boston University School of Law.

Jones is a member of the (IVMF) Advisory Board and chair of the Advisory Board. He was a member of the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting Advisory Board in Whitman and a member of the 鈥檚 黑料不打烊 Law Alumni Association Board of Directors. He received the Arents Award in 2014 and philanthropically supports initiatives in the IVMF, College of Law and Whitman School.

Jones lives with his wife, Robin G鈥�95, in Bedford Corners, New York, and has two adult children.

John A. Lally 鈥�82

Lally

John A. Lally started working for PCB Piezotronics Inc. after graduating from 黑料不打烊 in 1982, eventually becoming president and CEO of the engineering firm specializing in the design and manufacturing of specialized sensors for the measurement of dynamic pressure, force and vibration. Over three decades, he grew the company into a global industry leader with 2,000 employees worldwide innovating products for diverse industries, before selling the firm in 2016 to a publicly held company.

A student-athlete and three-year football letterman, Lally earned a B.S. from the Whitman School, with a double major in marketing and transportation and distribution management.

The former offensive lineman was honored in 2011 by the 黑料不打烊 Football Club with the Zunic Award, given to former players who exemplify core values of dedication to their community and philanthropy. In 2017, Lally and his wife, Laura, donated $1 million to resurface the football practice facility field and in 2019 donated $25 million to 黑料不打烊 Athletics, establishing the as part of the Athletic Framework. In 2022, he was named LetterWinner of Distinction by 黑料不打烊 Athletics and the Varsity Club.

Lally is involved with several charity organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Heart Association, Hospice, Wings of Hope and, most recently, Challenger Baseball. Through the Lally Foundation, John and Laura fund several high school and college scholarship programs. An avid outdoorsman, Lally enjoys fishing and owns OrangeLine Equine, LLC, with investment Saddlebred horses located in Lexington, Kentucky, and Land O鈥� Lakes, Florida.

The Lallys reside in the Tampa, Florida, area and have two adult children, Caitlin and Jack.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

The late Cerri Banks 鈥�00, G鈥�04, G鈥�06, who served as the University鈥檚 vice president and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience; Michael Crow G鈥�85, president of Arizona State University; David R. MacDonald, artist and professor emeritus of ceramics; and Kathleen A. Walters 鈥�73, retired executive vice president of Georgia-Pacific and the first woman to serve as chair of the University Board of Trustees, will be honored for their outstanding achievements in their professional careers and the difference they have made in the lives of others.

Cerri A. Banks 鈥�00, G鈥�04, G鈥�06

Doctor of Humane Letters (posthumously)

Cerri A. Banks

An outstanding leader in student affairs and a scholar-practitioner of education, Banks dedicated her life鈥檚 work to the betterment of the student experience. Banks passed away on July 31, 2022; Banks鈥� parents, Deryk and Cynthia Banks, will be accepting her honorary degree at Commencement.

Banks had a lifetime legacy at 黑料不打烊: as an engaged alumna, a staunch supporter of her cherished and the University, and a beloved leader and mentor in the Student Experience division. She was a thought leader in the field of student affairs, recognized for her work at the intersection of scholarship and practice, teaching and research, academic affairs, and student affairs.

A three-time graduate of 黑料不打烊, Banks earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in inclusive elementary and special education, a master鈥檚 degree in cultural foundations of education and a Ph.D. in cultural foundations of education, all from the School of Education, along with a certificate of advanced study in women鈥檚 and gender studies from the . Her doctoral research focused on student engagement and belonging, examining how Black women undergraduates found ways to succeed on predominantly white college campuses.

From there, her research, scholarship and leadership continued to develop and deepen into an exemplary professional life of service to student affairs and success. Before returning to 黑料不打烊 in 2021 as vice president for student success and deputy to the senior vice president of student experience, Banks had been Skidmore College鈥檚 dean of students and vice president for student affairs for nearly five years, overseeing all student services, serving on the president鈥檚 cabinet and overseeing the bias response group and the COVID-19 campus planning and response. She served in similar positions at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and at William Smith College in Geneva, New York, where she was also director of the President鈥檚 Commission on Inclusive Excellence.

Once at 黑料不打烊, Banks quickly made an impact on the student experience and on Universitywide initiatives through leadership roles involving critical initiatives. In addition to her role with , Banks served as a member of the three-person interim leadership team charged with advancing the University鈥檚 diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility priorities and strategic planning efforts. She co-chaired the search for a new chief diversity officer and played a crucial role in creating open lines of communication between students and administration, serving as a fierce advocate and a mentor for students. As an alumna, she established a national mentoring presence and skillfully chaired the School of Education Board of Visitors for eight years, playing a key role in the school鈥檚 redesign.

Banks was a highly respected and internationally recognized academic leader and a prolific scholar. Among her published works were 鈥淏lack Women Undergraduates, Cultural Capital and College Success,鈥� 鈥淭eaching, Learning and Intersecting Identities in Higher Education鈥� and 鈥淣o Justice! No Peace! College Student Activism, Race Relations and Media Cultures,鈥� as well as numerous articles, book chapters and presentations on culturally relevancy, identity and learning, and other subjects.

Michael Crow G鈥�85

Doctor of Science

Michael Crow

A knowledge enterprise architect and science and technology policy scholar, Crow has led Arizona State University (ASU) through a transformation of academic innovation and educational accessibility that has made him known nationwide as a leader in the evolution of higher education. Crow became the 16th president of Arizona State University in July 2002 and since then the university has seen rapid growth in traditional, online and international student enrollment, retention and research鈥攁ll while evolving the academic enterprise to meet the changing needs of students, especially those from underrepresented groups.

During his now more than two decades at ASU, the University鈥檚 enrollment grew from 55,000 to 80,000 students, with a dedicated commitment to increased diversity. Its substantial Hispanic enrollment has earned it a Department of Education designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Under President Crow, ASU, which is a Carnegie R1 University, has seen a nearly fivefold growth in research expenditures, and currently ranks 17th in federal expenditures. For its dramatic growth and modernization, ASU has been recognized as one of the top 100 most prestigious universities in the world by Times Higher Education, and a top 100 position in Shanghai Jiao Tong鈥檚 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Under Crow鈥檚 leadership, ASU has established 25 new transdisciplinary schools, including the School of Earth and Space Exploration, the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and launched trailblazing multidisciplinary initiatives, including the Biodesign Institute, the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, and initiatives in the humanities and social sciences.

Crow, who earned a Ph.D. in public administration from the and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and environmental studies at Iowa State University, began building his distinguished academic career in various roles at Iowa State and Columbia University. At Columbia, he served as director of the Earth Institute, a collaboration of dozens of research centers and programs at the university and one of the nation鈥檚 leading resources on climate change, university vice provost and associate vice provost for science and engineering. At Iowa State, he was director of the Institute for Physical Research and Technology and director of the Office of Science Policy and Research. Throughout his career, including now as ASU president, he continues to teach and conduct research, staying grounded in the mission of higher education.

Crow has been recognized by his peers as an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He has published numerous books and articles analyzing knowledge enterprises, science and technology policy, and the design of higher education institutions. His expertise has been tapped by the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce and Energy, as well as defense and intelligence agencies.

David R. MacDonald

Doctor of Fine Arts

David R. MacDonald

An internationally renowned artist and professor emeritus of ceramics in the (VPA), MacDonald uses clay as a medium for exploring the form and function of utilitarian vessels, his African heritage, themes of anger and injustice, and the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

A professor in the School of Art and Design (currently the School of Art) from 1971-2008, MacDonald has taught art and ceramics to legions of 黑料不打烊 students, mentored both students and fellow faculty members, and co-founded the , a cultural and artistic hub committed to artists of the African diaspora, housed in the University鈥檚 African American studies department.

MacDonald received an undergraduate degree in art education from the Hampton Institute (now Hampton University, in Hampton, Virginia) in 1968 and a master of fine arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1971. He fell in love with pottery as an artform at Hampton under the mentorship of noted African American ceramic artist Joseph W. Gilliard and was heavily influenced by ceramicists Bob Stull and John Stephenson while studying at the University of Michigan.

In his early years as an artist, MacDonald鈥檚 work was influenced by the social and political issues of the time, including the Civil Rights Movement, producing ceramic work that reflected his anger and frustration as a young Black man. As he expanded his study of East and South African culture, MacDonald became more interested in and influenced by the strength of his cultural heritage.

His abstract paintings and sculptures fuse the art of the ready-made with assemblage, minimalism and postminimalism using unremarkable materials such as raw and painted wood, bricks, paper, cement and plaster. Surface decoration, mark making and the use of carved patterns are all hallmarks of his ceramics work.

MacDonald has held the distinction of professor emeritus since retiring from the VPA faculty in 2008. His work is housed in the permanent collections of the Studio Museum in Harlem (New York), Montclair Art Museum (New Jersey) and Everson Museum of Art (黑料不打烊). He has been honored with the National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts鈥� Excellence in Teaching Award and the National Crafts Council鈥檚 Master Craftsman Award, and presented a solo exhibition at the Everson titled 鈥淭he Power of Pattern: New Work by David MacDonald,鈥� all in 2011. He also received the Trailblazer Award, which celebrates those who personify exemplary leadership, selfless acts and dedication to 黑料不打烊, from the University in 2017.

MacDonald鈥檚 pottery was featured in the nationally televised PBS series 鈥淎 Craftsman鈥檚 Legacy鈥� in 2016. He continues to create art in his home studio and occasionally returns to VPA as a guest lecturer.

Kathleen A. Walters 鈥�73

Doctor of Humane Letters

Kathleen A. Walters

An accomplished alumna, retired global business leader, committed philanthropist and the first woman to serve as chair of the (2019-23), Walters has been one of the University鈥檚 greatest ambassadors for the past 50-plus years.

She launched her pioneering career in the consumer products and paper industries after receiving a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences in 1973 and an MBA in finance and strategic planning from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1978.

Rising to prominence in a male-dominated industry during the final decades of the 20th century, Walters held international and North America leadership positions with Scott Paper Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp., SAPPI Fine Paper North America and Georgia-Pacific. She retired from Georgia-Pacific in 2019 as executive vice president and group president of its consumer products group, the largest retail and commercial tissue and tabletop businesses in North America, spanning more than 20 manufacturing locations and 15,000 employees.

Known for her strategic business competency, Walters has a proven record of leading companies to improved earnings from growth through innovation, revenue improvement and cost-efficiency strategies. As chair of the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees, Walters has leveraged her unmatched business acumen and tenacity on behalf of the University, navigating the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, championing historic investments on campus鈥攊ncluding the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Building, the renovated Schine Student Center, ongoing enhancements to the JMA Wireless Dome and 黑料不打烊 Libraries鈥� Special Collection Research Center鈥攁nd organizing and serving on the Board Special Committee on Campus Climate, Diversity and Inclusion. During her tenure, the Board has diversified significantly to include more women and people of color than at any other point in the University鈥檚 history.

Walters, along with her husband, Stan 鈥�72, has provided lead gifts for the establishment of the Maxwell X Lab Support Fund which, among other initiatives, supports the Walters Community Partnerships providing funding for graduate and undergraduate student research. In addition, they have established the Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Fund for Science Research and, most recently, the Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professorship for Quantum Science, both in the College of Arts and Sciences. They support a wide range of University priorities, including the Barnes Center at The Arch, where they have funded the Kathy 鈥�73 and Stan Walters 鈥�72 Pet Therapy Room. They have supported other initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 黑料不打烊 Athletics and Libraries, and alumni relations.

Walters concludes her tenure as chair this month. In addition to providing ongoing oversight and leadership as chair, Walters serves on the Board Executive Committee, Board Organization and Nominating Committee and serves, ex officio, on all standing committees. She also serves on the National Campaign Council Executive Committee; the Advisory Committee on University Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (an outgrowth of the Special Committee on Campus Climate, Diversity and Inclusion); and the Free Speech Trustee Advisory Group. She was also Vice Chair of the Board from 2018-19 and chair of the Ad Hoc Workgroup on Volunteer Boards. In 2017, Walters received the Dritz Rookie Trustee of the Year Award. Her 黑料不打烊 service includes memberships on the Atlanta Regional Council and the University Libraries Advisory Board.

Add the for easy access to Commencement weekend details and to receive immediate notifications for any changes or updates to events taking place during Commencement weekend.

Fellow graduate and wife Judith C. 鈥淛udy鈥� Mower 鈥�66, G鈥�73, G鈥�80, G鈥�84 shares his conviction that a great professor can make a profound difference in a student鈥檚 approach to learning. That belief drives their latest gift to the University.

The Mowers

鈥淎t the very heart of its academic value, 黑料不打烊 continues to build upon the excellence of its faculty鈥攅xcellence that is found, nurtured, developed and celebrated,鈥� says Judy Mower. 鈥淎s the University increasingly heightens its already impressive reputation in academia as a special place, there are no boundaries to what we can achieve as a learning community.鈥�

In support of nurturing and growing faculty excellence, the Mowers have made a gift to establish the Mower Endowed Professorship of Persuasive Communications in the . Their $1.3 million gift to create the professorship is enhanced by a $666,000 commitment by the University through the .

鈥淛udy and I have always tried to match our interests with what the University needs,鈥� says Eric Mower, in describing their approach to philanthropy. As generous supporters of academic programs, lectures, athletics and the libraries鈥攁mong other programs鈥攂oth were recognized recently with the dedication of the in Bird Library, a gathering space for faculty to come together to collaborate, work across disciplines, encourage creativity and innovation, and inspire scholarship and research.

Having spent his entire career in marketing and communications, Mower saw the need for a new kind of professorship to integrate the various fields of communications that encompass persuasive communications in the advertising department of the Newhouse School.

鈥淧ersuasive communications is the essence of successful advertising, brand-building and public relations programs,鈥� says Mower, who earned a master鈥檚 degree in public relations from the Newhouse School. Persuasive communications involves a deep understanding of the 鈥渟ender-receiver鈥� relationship in creating credible, original, engaging and effective messages that convey the benefits of a product or the strength of an idea.

鈥淢y graduate degree is in public relations but two-thirds of my business is advertising,鈥� says Mower. 鈥淎nd on any given day, the work we do at Mower embraces one or the other or both from client assignment to client assignment. My time as a student at 黑料不打烊 and what I learned in sociology, economics, history, philosophy, literature, psychology and religion all provide food for thought and the problem-solving our work requires to make what we at Mower call 鈥楩ierce Friends鈥� on behalf of our clients.鈥�

鈥淎 communications school must remain nimble and maintain strong professional connections in order to keep up with the quickly changing industry,鈥� says Newhouse Dean . 鈥淎lumni like Eric and Judy Mower represent this dynamic at its best. Their on-the-ground understanding of current issues, combined with their generous financial support, enhance our curriculum and faculty in ways that provide enormous benefits to our students.鈥�

Persuasive communications has also driven the success of the agency over the last 55 years as an integrated communications firm in a fast-evolving industry that uses all forms of communications to create 鈥渄eep emotional connections between people and brands.鈥�

As Mower describes it: 鈥淲e view the work of our industry through the lens of persuasive communications where the business, the art and the science of marketing and communications intertwine and overlap.鈥�

Today, Mower has senior-level staff located in 10 cities around the country, employing more than 150 people in a profession that is 鈥渇orever revolving, evolving and involving.鈥�

Mower keeps up with the changing world by perusing multiple newspapers every day (The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, plus various daily newsletters and trade journals) because they 鈥減rovide the vital, raw material for the work we do that might enrich our messaging.鈥� He expects the person who holds the Mower Endowed Professorship of Persuasive Communications to inspire that same kind of passionate curiosity and love of learning in Newhouse students, producing the kind of graduates that will be successful in the field he loves.

鈥淲hen I interview someone who wants to join our company, I鈥檓 hoping to see someone with great curiosity about the world, a welcoming appreciation of human diversity, a desire to problem-solve as part of a thinking team in the pursuit of outstanding message programs. If they bring those things, then maybe they can be successful in helping a client evaluate their needs in whatever business category they may function and better understand their marketplace and their customers. Every school of communication ought to have a persuasive communications professorship that embraces all the moving parts of听 message creation and delivery and how they fit together,鈥� Eric Mower says.

This newest gift through the Faculty Excellence Program adds to an extraordinary history of philanthropy and service to the University by both Eric and Judy Mower. From 1990-2006, Eric Mower served as a voting member of the Board of Trustees and is now a Life Trustee; he is a member of the and a past member of the Whitman Advisory Council. Judy Mower was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2007 and became a Life Trustee in 2019. An organizational development consultant, Judy Mower is currently chair of the Libraries Advisory Board and has been an adjunct faculty member in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Judy and Eric met while students at 黑料不打烊 and married in Hendricks Chapel.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Ed Pettinella

鈥淲e are grateful for the support and leadership of Ed and his family.听Their commitment to the John A Lally Athletics Complex and the JMA Wireless Dome will enhance the experience for all of our student-athletes at 黑料不打烊 and our fans who attend events at the JMA Wireless Dome,鈥� says Athletic Director John Wildhack. 鈥淓d鈥檚 gift provides tremendous momentum to two projects that are critical components of our long term vision for 黑料不打烊 Athletics.鈥�

This new commitment will support Phase 1 of the ongoing John A. Lally Athletics Complex project, which includes the construction of the One Team Olympic Sports Center and the Football Operations Center. These two facilities will combine to support all 600 student-athletes and include updated dining and nutrition spaces, locker rooms, and medical training and strength and conditioning facilties. Additionally, a portion of this commitment will support the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project and the construction of Miron Victory Court.

Pettinella has been an influential and impactful figure on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus for years. He first arrived at 黑料不打烊 to pursue an MBA after graduating with a B.S. degree from SUNY Geneseo in 1973 and beginning his career at Community Savings Bank (CSB). After earning an MBA in 1976, he returned to CSB to blaze a trail as the bank鈥檚 first investment analyst. In the years following, he continued to build his impressive resume in banking as the president of Charter One Bank of NY and executive vice president of Charter One Financial Inc., as well as several management positions with Rochester Community Savings Bank, including chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief investment officer. In 2001, Pettinella joined Home Properties, which owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. After initially serving as the executive vice president, he became president and chief executive officer and ran the company鈥檚 $7 billion real estate investment trust.

鈥淓d鈥檚 generosity is matched by his vision and informed by his business acumen,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淗e invests his time and philanthropy in faculty and academic initiatives that enhance both research and teaching, and in projects that transform the total student experience, both inside and outside the classroom. We are a much stronger university because of Ed.鈥�

Pettinella鈥檚 success as a businessman is rivaled only by his impact on the communities in which he lives and works. In addition to his service as a 黑料不打烊 Trustee, Pettinella is a member of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management Advisory Council and the Kuhn Real Estate Center Advisory Board. He received Whitman鈥檚 Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award in recognition of his career accomplishments and dedication to 黑料不打烊,. He was also named SU Dritz Trustee of the Year in 2016. His leadership philanthropy funded two professorships at Whitman and a scholarship for athletic graduate students. With the announcement of this new $3 million gift to support 黑料不打烊 Athletics, Pettinella and his family continue to lead the way in providing the resources 黑料不打烊鈥檚 听faculty, coaches and students need to be successful. Their generosity also advances the Forever Orange Campaign, the comprehensive effort to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support for the University.

鈥淎s a proud 黑料不打烊 alumnus, it鈥檚 an honor to support the John A. Lally Athletics Complex, the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project and the Miron Victory Court as these projects are very instrumental to the future of 黑料不打烊 Athletics,鈥� says Pettinella. 鈥淭he combination of superior academics and exceptional athletics provides the student body with an unrivaled collegiate experience. I look forward with enthusiastic anticipation to watching our future students and student-athletes gain tremendous life experiences from these outstanding projects.鈥�

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex and the reflect the commitment by 黑料不打烊 to provide the best possible experience to all student-athletes, coaches, alumni and fans by improving infrastructure and resources that support all of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 athletic programs. When complete, the will be a state-of-the-art academic and athletic village featuring a new Football Operations Center, One Team Olympic Sport Center and new Academic Center to serve all 20 sports teams and 600-plus student-athletes. The to reimagine the stadium experience, includes installation of upgraded seating and new premium offerings throughout the historic venue.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About the Legends Society

The Legends Society is an exclusive group of 黑料不打烊 fans, family and alumni who join in this shared vision and are actively supporting the John A. Lally Athletics Complex by making commitments to the capital campaign. Donors to the Legends Society enjoy unique stewardship opportunities in recognition of their support.

About the JMA Wireless Dome Transformation Project

aims to enhance the game day experience for all 黑料不打烊 fans, student-athletes, coaches, students and alumni. The second phase of the project, which was announced in December, includes the installation of upgraded chairback seating throughout a majority of the Dome and the introduction of new premium offerings, building upon earlier enhancements that included the installation of a new roof, the largest center-hung video scoreboard in college sports, air conditioning throughout the venue, lighting and sound enhancements, and an improved concessions experience.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

Howard Woolley

A gift from Newhouse School alumnus and 黑料不打烊 Trustee Howard Woolley 鈥�80 will support students studying in Washington, D.C.

Woolley, who is based in Washington, is president and CEO of the Howard Woolley Group, a strategic business and public policy advisory firm for the telecommunications and technology industries. He is a member of the Newhouse Advisory Board and sits on the DEI subcommittee.

The gift will support students with demonstrated financial need who are studying in the school鈥檚 program, based at the new 黑料不打烊 Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship Institute. Preference will be given to students who advance the University鈥檚 interest in promoting the educational benefits of a diverse student body. Students may begin benefiting from the fund as early as this spring.

鈥淭he academic work and听 professional internships will be invaluable to the students鈥� careers,鈥� says Woolley. 鈥淭heir participation in the Democracy, Journalism, and Citizenship Institute will be invaluable听 to society.鈥�

Newhouse dean says support from Woolley and other alumni will play a key role in the success of the school鈥檚 DC-based initiatives. 鈥淲e are grateful for alumni like Howard, who share our vision for an expanded presence in Washington and who understand the myriad ways our students will benefit from educational and hands-on experiences in the nation鈥檚 capital.鈥�

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn鈥檛 just our color. It鈥檚 our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit to learn more.

Samuel V. Goekjian 鈥�52

鈥淚 have always considered myself a Maxwell man,鈥� Goekjian . It鈥檚 where he 鈥� not only about the rights of citizenship, but also of the obligations that accompany that citizenship.鈥� He took what he learned and made a real difference in the world and in the lives of hundreds of 黑料不打烊 students.

Goekjian鈥檚 father, Vahram, was an Armenian journalist who escaped the bloodshed in Turkey at the end of World War I. He married another Armenian refugee in Greece, and emigrated to Ethiopia to build a business and raise their two sons, eventually sending them to an American boarding school on the island of Cyprus. Later, Goekjian returned to Ethiopia to work at the Ministry of Education, where one of his responsibilities was to place students in British and American universities. That鈥檚 when he was presented with an opportunity that would change his life鈥攁 four-year scholarship to 黑料不打烊. He arrived in 1948, as one of the few international students on campus.

At the University, Goekjian demonstrated his diverse skills, interests and leadership: he was a three-sport letter winner in soccer, track and tennis (recognized by the Varsity Club of 黑料不打烊 Athletics 40 years later as a 1996 LetterWinner of Distinction); he belonged to the Phi Kappa Alpha Honor Society, the Orange Key and was a Phi Beta Kappa; he was elected president of his junior class, the debate society and the men鈥檚 student government in his senior year. He graduated magna cum laude in 1952 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history.

After graduation, Goekjian joined the U.S. Army and served as a mortar gunner in the Korean War. Following two years of combat service, he attended Harvard Law School and earned a law degree in 1957.

Fluent in seven languages and having lived in four continents, he navigated the world of international law and business with ease, spending the next five decades working for law firms, businesses or consulting firms with international offices. At Surrey & Morse, he rose to managing partner, overseeing its finance committee, international arbitration department and offices in Paris and Beirut. For nearly ten years, he was chair and CEO of Consolidated Westway Group Inc., an international trading and agro-industrial group. He was past chair and CEO of Intracon Associates LLC, an international business consulting firm in Washington, D.C., and managing partner of Kile Park Reed & Houtteman, which specializes in intellectual property, internet technology and international trade.

He also served as a senior consultant to various agencies at the United Nations and was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. The author of papers on international law and finance, Goekjian taught at the George Washington University Law School, the Georgetown University Law Center and Georgetown鈥檚 International Law Institute. He also taught a course in international economic development at Maxwell as an adjunct professor of international relations from 1998-2003.

Goekjian served his alma mater in diverse ways. He was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1997 and was a voting trustee until 2010, serving on the Academic Affairs and the Enrollment and the Student Experience committees. He had the distinction of being one of the longest-serving members of the advisory board of his beloved Maxwell School, which recognized his service with the Horizon Award in 2005. He received the University鈥檚 highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award, in 2009 for his excellence in international business and law.

Ensuring a legacy of his love for the University and commitment to international affairs, he established the Samuel V. Goekjian Endowment in Global Affairs. His philanthropy supported hundreds of summer travel research grants for Maxwell students doing international field research, providing students with the opportunity to gather information and data that would position them to better compete for future research funding. Each summer, the fund provides more than a dozen grants, awarded through Maxwell鈥檚 Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs. Recipients have used the money to help with airfare, translators and basic expenses.

, Goekjian committed another $250,000 to the fund that had already exceeded $1 million. In a 2018 Maxwell School news article about the celebration, one of the award recipients said, 鈥渢his is the type of financial and intellectual generosity that positively alters the course of people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

At the time of his death, he lived in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his children Kenneth, Christopher, Peter and Lisa, and six grandchildren.

James D. Kuhn 鈥�70, G鈥�72 and his wife, Marjorie, have provided a substantial new commitment to support the Forever Orange Campaign for 黑料不打烊 and of the multimillion-dollar, multi-year effort to reimagine the stadium experience. The gift creates a new premium field/courtside space within the JMA Dome and provides an upgraded fan experience for premium seat holders for all five 黑料不打烊 Athletics programs that compete in the facility.

鈥淭hrough their philanthropy, Jimmy and Marjorie continuously redefine what it means to be a fan, friend and ambassador of 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淭hanks to their leadership, selflessness and vision, 黑料不打烊 will continue to transform and elevate the fan and student experience on campus for years to come.鈥�

The Kuhns have made several high-impact gifts over the years. Their gifts have established the and the Leo and Sunnie Kuhn Endowed Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Whitman School of Management, as well as the Kuhn Film Fund in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. They have also supported initiatives in the School of Architecture, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and 黑料不打烊 Athletics. In addition to supporting a number of 黑料不打烊 initiatives, Kuhn has been a champion of philanthropy to a number of other organizations with gifts to NYU Langone, National Jewish Hospital, Mt Sinai, HSS and the Diversity Scholarship Fund at NYU Schack Real Estate Center for students pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in real estate.

James Kuhn is just as generous with his time. He has served on the Board of Trustees since 2007, was vice chair from 2013-17 and chair of the Facilities Committee from 2009-13. He has been a member of the Board Executive, Finance and Facilities committees. He also currently serves as chair of the Board Athletics Committee (through early May 2023). He is a member of the Whitman Advisory Council, which he had previously chaired for 10 years. In 2010, Kuhn received the inaugural Dritz Rookie Trustee of the Year Award and in 2018, he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award. In 2001, he received the Whitman School’s Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award.

鈥淛immy appreciates what it takes to excel as a student-athlete,鈥� says John Wildhack, director of athletics. 鈥淏esides the commitment and hard work it takes to be a competitor, he knows that the entire University community plays a role in the success of our athletics program. Enhancing the fan experience at the JMA Dome strengthens our commitment to our student-athletes.鈥�

A , Kuhn captained the 黑料不打烊 fencing team during the 1967-68 season and was a three-time letterwinner. During his tenure on the team, he won the North Atlantic Collegiate Foil Championship and went on to finish in the top 16 at nationals in 1968. After a 25-year absence, Kuhn returned to fence in the veterans division, where he was ranked seventh in the nation by the time of his retirement in 2001.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� gave me everything I needed and wanted to prepare me for life,鈥� says Kuhn. 鈥淭here are two things you can do in your life that are unrequited鈥攑hilanthropy and helping your children be better than you are.鈥�

After earning a B.S. in finance in 1970 and an MBA in 1972 from 黑料不打烊, Kuhn began his career as a lender with Metropolitan Life, and then was an owner/manager with The Mendik Company, before selling it to Vornado. He is principal, president and head of investor services for New York-based Newmark, which he joined in 1992. With more than 6,500 employees worldwide, Newmark operates from approximately 170 global offices. Kuhn also founded and leads Newmark鈥檚 technology and innovation practice group.

aims to enhance the game day experience for all 黑料不打烊 fans, student-athletes, coaches, students and alumni. The second phase of the project, which was announced in December, includes the installation of upgraded chairback seating and the introduction of new premium offerings throughout the venue, building upon earlier enhancements that included the installation of a new roof, the largest center-hung video scoreboard in college sports, air conditioning throughout the venue, lighting and sound enhancements, and an improved concessions experience.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

About Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊

Orange isn’t just our color. It’s our promise to leave the world better than we found it. Forever Orange: The Campaign for 黑料不打烊 is poised to do just that. Fueled by more than 150 years of fearless firsts, together we can enhance academic excellence, transform the student experience and expand unique opportunities for learning and growth. Forever Orange endeavors to raise $1.5 billion in philanthropic support, inspire 125,000 individual donors to participate in the campaign, and actively engage one in five alumni in the life of the University. Now is the time to show the world what Orange can do. Visit听听to learn more.

Walter Broadnax

鈥淧ublic service isn鈥檛 about something you do today and then you鈥檙e done. It鈥檚 about improving our society, improving the world鈥or the people that live in it.鈥� Words attributed to Walter Broadnax G鈥�75 that defined the way he approached life, education, work and volunteer service. The esteemed 黑料不打烊 alumnus, professor, trustee and benefactor passed away on Dec. 2, 2022, at the age of 78.

Broadnax was raised in Hoisington, Kansas, in the part of town that had no paved roads, no indoor plumbing or sewage, and attended a predominantly white elementary school. He demonstrated both ambition and leadership early in life, becoming superintendent of his Sunday school at the First Baptist Church when he was just 16 years old, and graduating from Hoisington High School as an outstanding senior student in 1962.

That was just the beginning of what would become a long and distinguished career in public service. With a Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (his dissertation was titled 鈥淩ole Differentiation Between Minorities and Non-minorities in Urban Administration鈥�), Broadnax shaped a career in the public and nonprofit sectors that led him to be considered one of America鈥檚 most respected scholar-practitioners in the field of public policy and management.

鈥淎s a teacher, scholar and lifelong public servant, Walter has always been an inspiration,鈥� says Maxwell School Dean David M. Van Slyke. 鈥淲alter鈥檚 humility, intellect and commitment to making a positive difference could be seen in the magnanimous ways he interacted with people from all walks and stations in life and treated them with dignity, respect and compassion.鈥�

Walter Broadnax

Before joining the Maxwell faculty in 2008 as Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and International Affairs, he served as president of Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia; dean of the School of Public Affairs at American University in Washington, D.C.; and professor of public policy and management in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, where he directed the Bureau of Governmental Research, and was founding director of the Innovations in State and Local Government program at Harvard University鈥檚 Kennedy School of Government.

In addition to his academic career, Broadnax held many positions in the government sector, including deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing a major restructuring of the agency and the creation of the Social Security Administration as an independent entity; transition team leader for the Clinton/Gore administration; president of the Center for Governmental Research Inc. in Rochester, New York; president of the New York State Civil Service Commission; and director of Children, Youth and Adult Services for the state of Kansas.

In 2010, Broadnax and his wife, Angel, to provide scholarship and financial assistance to a graduate student or students enrolled in Maxwell, and pledged a $1 million bequest gift to support public administration students in perpetuity. Acknowledging the gift, Van Slyke said that Broadnax represented 鈥渢he ideals of the Maxwell School鈥� parlaying his Maxwell education into public service and sharing his acquired wisdom with students aspiring to public service.

Five years later, Broadnax retired from teaching and took on emeritus status at the Maxwell School.

Walter Broadnax speaking at the M.P.A. convocation in 2015. (Photo by Arthur Paris)

In honor of his retirement, his former colleague at Maxwell, James D. Carroll, wrote a tribute: 鈥淲alter鈥檚 distinctive contribution has been his unique combination of study and experience and his ability to share it with others鈥攁 contribution in the finest Maxwell tradition.鈥�

Broadnax鈥檚 commitment to 黑料不打烊 included election to the Board of Trustees in 1999, serving as a voting Trustee until 2008 and then Life Trustee. He and his wife supported other initiatives beyond Maxwell, at the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Hendricks Chapel. Broadnax received the George Arents Award for excellence in public service in 2001, the University鈥檚 highest alumni honor.

Earlier this year at the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Chancellor Kent Syverud paid tribute to Broadnax, along with Dr. King and Charles Willie G鈥�57, H鈥�92, who earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the Maxwell School. Broadnax had been one of Willie鈥檚 students. 鈥淟et鈥檚 take our inspiration from Dr. King and Dr. Willie and Dr. Broadnax,鈥� said Syverud. 鈥淟et鈥檚 persevere through setbacks. Let鈥檚 commit ourselves to excellence that is rooted in equality. Let鈥檚 make 黑料不打烊 an example of the transforming power of higher education.鈥�

Broadnax is survived by his wife, Angel, of Fayetteville, New York, and their daughter, Andrea A. Broadnax-Green (Leonard), of Loxahatchee, Florida, along with several nieces and nephews.

鈥淥ver the last nine years, Chancellor Syverud, along with the talented leadership team he has built, has worked tirelessly to advance academic and research excellence, elevate the student experience and create a campus community that is truly welcoming to all,鈥� says Kathy Walters 鈥�73, chair of the Board. 鈥淗e has done all this despite facing historic challenges, including a once-in-a-generation global pandemic. We are grateful for his leadership, calm under pressure and distinctive vision for the future of 黑料不打烊.鈥�

In making this decision, the Board also cited the Chancellor鈥檚 evolving and distinctive vision for the University鈥檚 future, and the positive momentum he has built during his nine years at 黑料不打烊. Sound management of the COVID-19 crisis, the University鈥檚 strong financial standing and the transformative physical changes on campus are among the accomplishments recognized by the Board. Specifically, during his tenure, the University has:

• Reimagined and redefined the student experience with significant physical changes to the University鈥檚 campus, including the opening of the Barnes Center at The Arch, a holistic student health and wellness facility; renovating the Schine Student Center to better meet the needs of today鈥檚 students; transforming and renaming the iconic JMA Wireless Dome; and replacing a busy road with a pedestrian-friendly promenade, the Einhorn Family Walk, through the heart of campus.
• Built operating financial strength and stability: the endowment doubled to more than $1.7 billion in 2022; and launched the ongoing Forever Orange campaign, which has raised more than $1.24 billion.
• Focused on academic excellence, including hiring nearly 500 new full-time faculty since 2018 across multiple disciplines, schools and colleges and through the Cluster, Signature and Diversity Hire Programs, which together seek to advance interdisciplinary research, expand faculty diversity and strengthen the University鈥檚 global research reputation.
• Tripled enrollment of veterans and military-connected families since 2014, while simultaneously advancing key priorities in this area, including the expansion of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 D鈥橝niello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the creation of the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello Building, a state-of-the-art facility to house innovative military-centered programming.
• Hired the University鈥檚 inaugural chief diversity and inclusion officer and commissioned the University鈥檚 first ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan.
• Experienced record applications and enrollment, attracting an increasingly diverse and academically accomplished undergraduate student body.
• Embraced and encouraged innovation with the launch of online degrees and programs, including overseeing of 黑料不打烊 Global and the first online J.D. degree program in the nation.

About 黑料不打烊

黑料不打烊 is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors closes the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we鈥檙e a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what鈥檚 possible.

Mary George Opperman

鈥淢ary brings a breadth of experience and vision that will strengthen our shared governance process and enhance the Board鈥檚 engagement with the University community,鈥� says Board Chair Kathy Walters 鈥�73. 鈥淢ary has an impressive track record of developing solutions to many of the challenges facing higher education, dealing with highly sensitive issues and building an inclusive culture. She will be an extraordinary asset to our board office.鈥�

Opperman comes to 黑料不打烊 after over 20 years at Cornell University, where she most recently served as vice president and chief human resources officer. At Cornell, her portfolio included oversight of the Division of Human Resources, the Office of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity, Title IX compliance and the Center for Regional Economic Advancement.听She also oversaw development of Cornell鈥檚 innovative Center for Regional Economic Advancement and collaborated with Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community College to found Rev: Ithaca Startup Works, a New York State-supported new business incubator in downtown Ithaca. Prior to her time at Cornell, Opperman spent several years at Harvard University in employee and staff relations, development and training.

鈥満诹喜淮蜢� is fortunate to have found someone of Mary鈥檚 stature to lead our board office,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淪he has worked closely with higher education leadership teams and boards to ensure alignment of purpose and improvement of performance. Mary has extensive experience in bringing together diverse stakeholders to advance our strategic priorities in inclusive and collaborative ways.鈥�

As senior vice president and University secretary, Opperman will oversee trustee relations, support the overall work of the Board and manage the Office of the Board of Trustees. Along with the team in the Board Office, Opperman will coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Board and its various committees to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the University鈥檚 system of governance. She will work closely with the Board Chair, the Chancellor, senior administration and committee chairs of the Board, to provide counsel and guidance on strategy, policy and process.

鈥淎s someone who watches, studies and lives in the higher education landscape, I am very excited to be joining 黑料不打烊 at a time when, by all accounts, the University is thriving,鈥� says Opperman. 鈥淚 am eager to work with the Board of Trustees and the leadership team to advance the strategic vision for innovation and growth that will serve generations of students and the region. And I look forward to supporting the work that is pivotal to building trust in the governance process, which ultimately impacts the entire campus community and beyond.鈥�

Opperman spent several years serving as a trustee of Ithaca College, chairing the Governance and Compensation/Assessment Committee and serving on the Audit Committee. She has also served on the boards of Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes, Tompkins County Area Development and the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, and currently serves on the boards of the Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County and The Sciencenter. In March 2015, Opperman was selected by the editors of听Human Resource Executive听magazine as one of the 15 most influential women leaders in human resources and in 2021 by N2Growth and Stanford Business School as a top CHRO in the country.

Opperman has deep ties to 黑料不打烊 and Central New York. Originally from Clinton, New York, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from SUNY Oneonta and her master鈥檚 degree in organizational behavior from Cornell University. Her husband, Kip, is a 黑料不打烊 alumnus, having earned a master鈥檚 degree in counseling at the School of Education. Together, the two lived in 黑料不打烊 while he pursued his degree. They have two adult children, two grandchildren and two more on the way.

鈥淲e are so excited to be returning to the 黑料不打烊 community,鈥� says Opperman. 鈥淭he City of 黑料不打烊 and Central New York have evolved so much over the years and with the transformation ahead, I am proud to have the opportunity to serve a community that gave my husband and me such a strong foundation for personal and professional success.鈥�

With Opperman鈥檚 arrival, Guilherme Costa, who has been serving as interim University secretary, will resume his role as senior associate vice president and deputy University secretary. Walters extended her gratitude to Costa for his interim leadership of the Board Office.

鈥淲e are grateful to Guilherme for his service and thoughtful leadership during this interim period,鈥� says Walters. 鈥淲e look forward to his continued contributions as we transition to new leadership.鈥�

“The full Board of Trustees had its November meeting on campus earlier this month. They installed five new Trustees and there鈥檚 a new Board Chair. Trustee Jeff Scruggs will be the first person of color to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees when he assumes the role at the May meeting. He has over 20 years of finance experience and currently serves as head of the public sector and infrastructure group at Goldman Sachs.

“Jeff Scruggs is not a 黑料不打烊 graduate, but has a deep connection. I think some people in the meeting probably know that his father, Otey Scruggs, was a renowned professor of African American history at the Maxwell School for more than 25 years.

“Jeff Scruggs has been a strong advocate in ensuring this University is welcoming to all. He served as the co-lead of the Board鈥檚 Advisory Committee on University Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility and also the Special Committee on University Climate, Diversity and Inclusion.

“The Board also reviewed the honorary degree revocation standard and process. This included consideration of the feedback provided by the University Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees, Student Association and other constituent groups.

“The Board made two revisions to the draft report. First, they clarified in the standard that lawful speech is not a valid basis for the revocation of an honorary degree. Second, they accepted the recommendation that came through the Senate to remove the world 鈥渕oral鈥� from the standard. They voted then to adopt the revised standard and process.

“Through Emily [Stokes-Rees], all of you should have received the final policy along with the report and all the comments that were received on it. The next step is for the Senate to take any steps necessary to implement the process.

“A specific petition for the revocation of an honorary degree, as I understand it, would then be submitted to the Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees. If the Senate committee advances it, it would go to the full board.

“The only other new development since the fairly recent Senate meeting is it鈥檚 been a highly successful fall season in many fall sports. That includes the men鈥檚 soccer team, which won the ACC [Atlantic Coast Conrference] championship this past weekend and is in the NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] tournament playing here this coming weekend.

“But undoubtedly our biggest success was announced today鈥攖he high graduation rate for our student-athletes. This year we achieved a 93% graduation success rate鈥攚ith more than half of our teams having a 100% success rate. That ties 黑料不打烊 for fifth among all 69 schools in the Power 5 conferences and is the most important thing after all.

“Just reminding everybody we have a long-standing tradition here on campus to host an annual international Thanksgiving dinner for our international students. That鈥檚 tomorrow night. Thanks for all of you who are coming and serving as hosts. It introduces the more than 600 international students who are coming to Thanksgiving traditions in this country. Thank you for participating.

“I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving next week as well.”

Jeffrey M. Scruggs

黑料不打烊 today announced that Jeffrey M. Scruggs, a highly engaged trustee and respected member of the global finance community, has been selected to lead the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees, succeeding current Board Chair Kathleen A. Walters 鈥�73, whose term concludes in May 2023. The members of the Board of Trustees unanimously elected Scruggs, who becomes the first person of color to serve as Board chair.

Scruggs, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in economics from Harvard College, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School, has a deeply personal connection to 黑料不打烊. His father, Otey Scruggs, was an award-winning professor of history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs from 1969 until his retirement in 1995, and was considered a pioneer in the field of African American history. Otey Scruggs died in 2014. In 2018, his son Jeffrey was appointed to the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees and quickly became a leading voice on issues related to finance and diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

鈥淚 am both honored and grateful to have been selected by my peers to serve as Board chair,鈥� says Scruggs. 鈥淗aving worked alongside these incredibly committed members of the Board and closely with University leadership during challenging and unprecedented times over the last several years, I consider this appointment a privilege and a blessing. During the last several years, I have been impressed with the genuine passion and support demonstrated by my fellow trustees, Chancellor Kent Syverud and others in the Orange community. I take on this role knowing that I have exceptionally strong colleagues who are fiercely committed to advancing the vision and mission of 黑料不打烊.鈥�

鈥淛eff鈥檚 financial acumen is unmatched,鈥� says Walters. 鈥淏ut it is his generosity of spirit that has made him an outstanding trustee. He is committed to creating an extraordinary experience for each and every one of our students that honors the diversity of thoughts, perspectives and culture that each one brings to our community.鈥�

鈥淛eff is the kind of trustee most valued by leadership,鈥� says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淗e brings a wealth of professional leadership experience and business expertise, and is committed to doing the hard work. He is passionate about equity and opportunity in higher education. And, he believes deeply in accountability and delivering on the promises we make to our students, our faculty and our entire campus community.鈥�

In April 2021, Scruggs was named to co-lead the Board鈥檚 Advisory Committee on University Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility after serving as co-lead on the Board鈥檚 Special Committee on University Climate, Diversity and Inclusion that was constituted in December 2019. Recommendations from the Special Committee included investing $50 million to identifying, hiring and retaining a more diverse full-time faculty; enriching and modernizing the curriculum; enhancing the residential student experience; strengthening and prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility across all training, programming and facilities planning; and reimagining the role of the Department of Public Safety. In his work on the Board鈥檚 Advisory Committee, Scruggs was charged with providing oversight of the University鈥檚 efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive culture and a welcoming and equitable campus environment and promised 鈥渢o support the long-term work that will bring lasting and meaningful change to our community.鈥�

鈥淛eff is uniquely qualified to lead this Board in the stewardship of the University鈥檚 educational mission and resources,鈥� says Steven W. Barnes 鈥�82 H鈥�19, chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees. 鈥淏y any measure鈥攈is passion for 黑料不打烊, his knowledge of the higher education landscape, his professional stature and accomplishments, and the respect and admiration of his colleagues, we are so fortunate that Jeff Scruggs will serve this great university as the next chair of the Board of Trustees.鈥�

In 2021, Scruggs served on the search committee to select the University鈥檚 new chief diversity and inclusion officer, and in 2022 also served on the search committee to select the new chief financial officer. Presently, he serves as Finance Committee chair. Scruggs is also a member of the Board鈥檚 Executive Committee and the Free Speech Trustee Advisory Group. He also serves as an Advisory Board member to the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Scruggs and his wife Robbin E. Mitchell funded a lecture series in the Department of History to honor his father and created the Otey and Barbara Scruggs Maxwell School Scholarship with a long-term gift commitment to provide merit scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled across the Maxwell School disciplines, with preference given to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement. The scholarship is designed to help the Maxwell School and the University retain undergraduates who have already begun to prove their capabilities and potential, and to help support racial, cultural and gender diversity within the student body.

Scruggs joined Goldman Sachs in 2008 as a managing director after more than 20 years in the financial sector, almost all as an investment banker with PaineWebber Incorporated and UBS Securities. He left UBS Securities after serving as managing director and director of the Public Finance Investment Banking Group. For the past 12 years, Scruggs has been the head or co-head of the Public Sector and Infrastructure Group within the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs.

His wife Robbin Mitchell, who also earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Stanford University, is senior advisor for the Boston Consulting Group, focusing on retail within the Consumer Practice Area. They have two children, a son and daughter, and live in Manhattan.

Now in her role as associate provost for faculty affairs, partners with the and other academic affairs leaders to support key faculty initiatives and advance the University鈥檚 vision for and scholarly distinction.

Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs

“Being a faculty member has given me a knowledge base. I don鈥檛 always have the answers, but I have a good sense of what questions to ask. There are lots of moving parts in what we do, so we have to understand how the parts fit together as well as seeing the big picture,” Winders says. “It鈥檚 important to understand how to support faculty and support the work the deans are doing without getting in their way and without undermining the work of the schools and colleges. And it doesn鈥檛 hurt to have thick skin.”

Winders is also a in the in the . She鈥檚 best known for her work on international migration and emerging technologies and as founding director of the听University鈥檚 . Winders is associate editor of the international research journal and was editor-in-chief of the听International Migration Review听from 2017 to June 2022. She has served as department chair and director of undergraduate studies, faculty representative to the Board of Trustees, chair of the Arts and Sciences and Maxwell faculty councils and chair of the University Senate research committee. Winders began her new role as associate provost for faculty affairs in December 2021.

Winders answers some questions about how she approaches her role and implements its unique range of activities and perspectives.

Discover what motivates Dhaouadi and how she likes to have as many others involved in leadership initiatives as possible, as well as what she might do next once she completes her program.

Tracy Barash

Tracy Barash 鈥�89 is senior vice president/head of research, data and insights, business operations and franchise planning for Turner Sports and Bleacher Report, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. In this role she oversees the team that conducts research and leverages data and insight to drive growth for brands and platforms, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA Division I Men鈥檚 Basketball Championship, the Match and the Bleacher Report. She also leads a business operations team that drives strategic alignment and execution across the Sports organization.

Additionally, Barash is tasked with developing new franchises that can be monetized across the portfolio. Previously, as senior vice president of marketing, she led the overall consumer marketing, product marketing and marketing operations teams across all sports, including consumer, brand and product marketing efforts for Bleacher Report.

Barash has a strong history of leading marketing, brand development and franchise management for high-profile brands. This experience includes roles as vice president of Global Franchise Management for Cartoon Network where she developed strategic plans for such programs as “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Ben 10,” at Warner Bros. Consumer Products where she was a key member of the team that launched The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando and managed the development of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” global museum tour, and at Diageo where she oversaw the marketing strategy and execution for such brands as Smirnoff Vodka, Malibu Rum and Baileys Irish Cream.

In addition to her professional achievements, Barash is a member of the Whitman Advisory Council and is the co-chair of Atlanta Regional Council for 黑料不打烊. She was a voting member of the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees during her term as the president of the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Association Board, where she also served on the National Campaign Council.

Barash has been actively engaged with a wide range of activities at the Whitman School, including working as an alumni mentor and as a frequent speaker for student events. Barash received the Dean鈥檚 Citation for Exceptional Service from the Whitman School in 2019. She graduated with a B.S. in marketing management from the Whitman School in 1989 and from Emory University鈥檚 Goizueta Business School in 1993 with an MBA.

鈥淲e are so fortunate to have someone with Tracy鈥檚 background and passion take on this new role in support of the Whitman School and 黑料不打烊. I am very grateful for her continued leadership in working on behalf of all advisory council members in furthering the Whitman School and its programs,鈥� says Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer.

鈥淚 am honored to serve as the next chair of the Whitman Advisory Council, working to drive Whitman鈥檚 strategic mission forward, while supporting its dynamic students and engaging the Whitman alumni community to join me in this endeavor,鈥� says Barash.

鈥淚 would like to express my tremendous appreciation to Lisa Fontenelli 鈥�86 for her four years of outstanding leadership of the Whitman Advisory Council. Lisa has been instrumental in helping to forge a pathway forward for Whitman and we are so pleased that she will continue to support Whitman on the council moving forward,鈥� says Alex McKelvie, interim dean at the Whitman School.

For a complete list of Whitman Advisory Council members, visit the .

Robert B. Menschel

鈥淏ob was truly a model of service to 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Board chair Kathleen A. Walters 鈥�73. 鈥淔irst elected to the Board of Trustees in 1981, he served as a voting trustee for more than two decades, becoming a trustee emeritus and part of a select group of honorary trustees recognized for their contributions. From exhibitions to lecture series to professorships and endowed chairs, Bob supported creativity, innovation and academic excellence that defines this university.鈥�

Menschel earned a bachelor of science degree from the College of Business Administration in 1951. After earning a degree from the Graduate School of Business Administration at New York University in 1954, he joined Goldman Sachs & Co. where he founded the first Institutional Department, which became the model for the securities industry. Menschel subsequently became a partner in charge of institutional sales and later rose to become one of the firm鈥檚 senior directors. In 2002, he published 鈥淢arkets, Mobs & Mayhem: A Modern Look at the Madness of Crowds,鈥� where he explored the phenomenon of crowd psychology and its effects on business and culture.

Along with his Board of Trustees work, which included serving on the executive and investment and endowment committees, Menschel served on the Commitment to Learning Campaign, the Schine National Committee and the Ballentine Center Committee. His philanthropic support was widespread, including the Paul Volcker Endowed Chair in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; the Robert B. Menschel Endowed Fund; the Maxwell-Eggers Building Fund; the Tolley Distinguished Teaching Professorship in the Humanities; and the William Safire Chair in Modern Letters. He was lauded for his foresight when he provided a gift in 2001 to establish The University Lectures, a cross-disciplinary lecture series bringing to 黑料不打烊 individuals of exceptional accomplishment in the areas of architecture and design; the humanities and the sciences; and public policy, management and communications.

His philanthropy supported the renovation of Light Work and Community Darkrooms in the Watson Theater Complex, which was dedicated as the Robert B. Menschel Media Center. He was the major sustaining private supporter of Light Work and Community Darkrooms, providing financial support, resources and extensive collections of photographs to the Light Work holdings and for exhibitions in the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery.

Similarly, Menschel was widely praised and recognized for his support of photography exhibitions at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Joyce and Robert Menschel Hall for Modern Photography听at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The 2016-17 MoMA exhibition titled 鈥淭he Shape of Things: Photographs from Robert B. Menschel鈥澨齮old the story of photography over 150 years from its start in 1843, and featured works acquired over 40 years with Menschel鈥檚 support. Menschel was a member of the Committee on Photography at MoMA with building the vast photography collection through financial support and donations from his personal collection.

The 2017 exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, titled 鈥淧osing for the Camera: Gifts from Robert B. Menschel,鈥澨齩nce again demonstrated his passionate advocacy for photography. The exhibition explored portraiture and featured photographs acquired with funds from Menschel or pledged as gifts from his personal collection.

Robert Menschel, second from left, accepts the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy from Harvey Fineberg of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 2015. Judy Woodruff and Vartan Gregorian of the Carnegie Corp. of New York, in background, were also on stage at the event at the New York Public Library. Photo by Filip Wolak (Source: Carnegie Corp. of New York)

In 2015, Robert and his brother Richard L. Menschel 鈥�55 shared the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, which honors those who that 鈥渨ith wealth comes a responsibility to contribute to the world鈥檚 betterment and a more open and just society.鈥� In the medal presentation, it was noted that the brothers鈥� 鈥渄edication and talent took them both to the top of the investment banking field at prestigious Goldman Sachs, and they have been giving back in countless ways for decades.鈥� Robert was quoted as saying 鈥渢here is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year by year for the general good.鈥�

Menschel received the University鈥檚 George Arents Pioneer Medal in 1980 for 鈥渆xcellence in business, excellence in life鈥� and was awarded an honorary degree by 黑料不打烊 in 1991. In 1999, he was awarded the Martin J. Whitman School of Management鈥檚 Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year award.

Beyond his Board work at 黑料不打烊, Menschel served as chairman of The Vital Projects Fund Inc., a charitable foundation with an interest in human rights and criminal justice reform; chairman emeritus and former president of MoMA; member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the New York Presbyterian Hospital; honorary trustee and former board president of the Dalton School; member of the trustee council of the National Gallery of Art; and member of the Council on Foreign听Relations where he is the namesake of the Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium.

He is survived by his partner, Janet Wallach; his former wife, Joyce Frank Menschel; his children, David Frank Menschel and Lauren Elizabeth Menschel; several grandchildren; and his brother and sister-in-law, Richard Menschel 鈥�55 and Ronay Menschel.

Harry E. Goetzmann Jr.

Goetzmann passed away on April 20, 2022, at the age of 84. 鈥淚t was his determination to succeed that defined Harry鈥檚 life and service to 黑料不打烊,鈥� says Board Chair Kathy Walters 鈥�73. 鈥淎s a student-athlete, he played one sport鈥攍acrosse鈥攁nd cheered on others as captain of the football and basketball cheerleading teams. He parlayed that enthusiasm for the Orange community into generosity with his time, treasure and talent, serving as a voting trustee from 1987 to 2003 and supporting a computer terminal room in the Schine Student Center, named for him and his wife Sylvia. We remain grateful for his generosity during his lifetime.鈥�

While pursuing an undergraduate degree in business from the Whitman School of Management, Goetzmann was an Army ROTC cadet, graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate and serving our country by flying helicopters as an officer in the U.S. Army.

Goetzmann began his professional career with IBM in 黑料不打烊 as a salesman and later as a sales manager. Just six years after joining IBM, he started his own company, 黑料不打烊 based Continental Information Systems (CIS), which bought, refurbished and leased IBM computers to businesses. CIS, which was launched out of Goetzmann鈥檚 home, eventually grew to 1,200 employees with offices in the United States, Germany, England, Switzerland and Japan. Eventually, CIS expanded its operations into leasing commercial aircraft, trains and ocean-going ships.

A serial entrepreneur, Goetzmann also helped launch Schomann Entertainment, an entertainment and communications company. He then founded and developed MegaCom Limited in 1993, the first cellular company in the Republic of Georgia. MegaCom provided the ability for Georgians to communicate on an international level.

Goetzmann was actively engaged with numerous business and civic organizations, including holding Board positions at Cazenovia College, WCNY, Chase Lincoln First Bank, the Salvation Army, Hiawatha Boy Scout Council of America, Crouse Irving Memorial Foundation, American General Life Insurance Company, Central N.Y. Leukemia Society, Citizens Foundation, Computer Dealers and Lessors Association, Central NY Metropolitan Development Association and 黑料不打烊 Symphony. He also served as chairman of the Board for the Greater 黑料不打烊 Chamber of Commerce and the Greater 黑料不打烊 Services Corporation.

In his free time, Goetzmann enjoyed relaxing with family and friends on Skaneateles Lake. He and his wife Sylvia, whom he met at 黑料不打烊, raised five children together in Skaneateles.听 He is survived by Sylvia and their children, Craig 鈥�85 (College of Arts and Sciences), Dan G鈥�87 (Whitman School of Management), Eric, Harry and Darlene; fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Trustee and Alumnus Larry Kramer ’72, right, received the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing Distinguished Achievement Award from Caleb Silver, left, SABEW president and editor in chief of Investopedia, at the SABEW’s annual convention on May 13. (Photo courtesy of SABEW/Victor G. Jeffreys II)

Kramer鈥檚 multidimensional career and significant impact upon the media industry has been recognized with the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing (SABEW)鈥攊ts highest honor. Kramer received the award during SABEW鈥檚 annual convention in New York City on May 13. The award is given to an individual who鈥痟as made a significant impact on the field of business journalism and served鈥痑s a nurturing influence on others in the profession.

Following the award presentation, Kramer shared reflections on his career with Brian Sozzi, editor at large and anchor at Yahoo! Finance, who was mentored by Kramer at TheStreet earlier in his career.

鈥淭hey (Larry Kramer and David Calloway) saw something in me, then promoted me to editor where I would lead a team of reporters,鈥� Sozzi said in a recent post on Twitter. 鈥淭hey mentored, encouraged and pushed me to hit grand slams. Importantly, they let me know when I missed the mark so I can improve.鈥�

Sozzi spoke of some highlights of Kramer鈥檚 long and distinguished career, including photographing the Woodstock Music Festival, delivering papers during the October 1989 San Francisco earthquake, and creating MarketWatch and the modern-day USA Today.

鈥淗e mentored and discovered hundreds of journalists you know, love and follow each and every day,鈥� Sozzi wrote. 鈥淗ell of a human being. Proud to be a graduate of his school. H/T to you. My friend.鈥�

Kramer says the award was a nice surprise. 鈥淚 am truly humbled to receive this award and join the list of previous winners who I have admired from near and far through all my years as a reporter, editor, entrepreneur and media executive,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his comes at a time when we particularly need to celebrate business journalism in its roles as a watchdog of business and government and in the constant search for truth. SABEW has always held our profession to the highest standards. It鈥檚 an honor to join those cited for their extraordinary work and for the examples they set for those who will follow us.鈥�

鈥淟arry Kramer is a visionary journalist, entrepreneur and teacher,鈥� says SABEW President Caleb Silver, editor in chief of Investopedia. 鈥淗e created several important business journalism platforms and organizations that are still going strong today and led several others to new heights. Beyond his business accomplishments, he has been an inspirational mentor, professor, philanthropist and friend of the industry throughout his incredible career.鈥�

His Life鈥檚 Path Began at 黑料不打烊

Larry Kramer shares reflections on his career with Brian Sozzi, editor-at-large and anchor at Yahoo! Finance, during the SABEW annual convention. (Photo courtesy of SABEW/Victor G. Jeffreys II)

The seeds of Kramer鈥檚 legendary career were planted at 黑料不打烊, where he majored in journalism in the Newhouse School of Public Communications and political science in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

During his time at 黑料不打烊, Kramer says he learned as much outside of the classroom as he did in it. He wrote for The Daily Orange and was a founder of The Promethean magazine.

Kramer learned an important lesson about tenacity during his senior year. He took a magazine writing class that was designed to give students a foundation in writing for freelance opportunities. He wrote an article, 鈥淭he Grass and Hash Business at 黑料不打烊,鈥� that focused on drugs on campus at that time (the early 1970s). The professor gave him a B+, and Kramer thought it deserved a better grade. 鈥淪ee if you can sell it then,鈥� the professor told him.

He did just that and sent it to major publications. While he received more than 25 rejections, he got one acceptance that mattered鈥ortune Magazine. Fortune ran his piece (he was the youngest author ever to have a byline in the magazine) and paid him $2,500鈥攚hich covered Kramer鈥檚 tuition for the semester. Soon after he received a call on the phone on his residence hall floor from Rolling Stone, asking to run the story as well. He received another $2,500鈥攃overing his tuition for the whole year.

鈥淚t was a lesson for me in tenacity and how we have to make our own breaks,鈥� Kramer says. 鈥淭his is a subjective business鈥攜ou can never give up.鈥�

For Kramer, taking advantage of those breaks led to unbelievable experiences. A chance call he took while sitting on the DO鈥檚 city desk led to work as a stringer for The Associated Press (AP) and put him on the scene when a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo was taken at Cornell University. That paved the path to a summer internship with the AP, which led to him being the first photographer to capture images from Woodstock in 1969, photos that made the centerfold of Life Magazine.

After earning an MBA at Harvard University, Kramer began working at The Washington Post in 1974. When he arrived, his new editor shared what impressed him the most: 鈥測our uncanny ability to land feet first in the middle of big stories.鈥�

鈥淭hese were lessons I learned at 黑料不打烊 that have paid out for me my whole life,鈥� Kramer says.

A Love of Mentoring

Kramer shares great memories while reflecting on his career and the people he has worked with. 鈥淚 have never had a job that I didn鈥檛 love,鈥� he says. One of his greatest joys has been the opportunities to mentor young journalists. Among those journalists who worked for Kramer in their early years were CNN鈥檚 Poppy Harlow, The New Yorker鈥檚 David Remnick, The New York Times鈥� Kara Swisher and the late Gwen Ifill of PBS. He served as an adjunct instructor in the Newhouse School, and has been a lecturer at several universities, including Harvard Business School, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Berkeley, New York University, Columbia University, Stanford University and Emory University.

After more than five decades in the industry, what advice does Kramer have for up- and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs? 鈥淢ake your own breaks and aggressively follow your instincts,鈥� he says. 鈥淒on鈥檛 get discouraged. Try something. If you get knocked down, get up and try it again.鈥�

He also encourages speaking to people on their level, and to listen. Spend time. Be determined, persistent and do your research. Be inquisitive. 鈥淒o the job you were assigned and do it well. That鈥檚 how you get to eventually do the stories you want to do,鈥� he says.

SABEW is the world鈥檚 largest association dedicated to business and financial journalism. The SABEW鈥疍istinguished Achievement Award was established in 1993 when it was鈥痑warded to鈥疕obart Rowan of The Washington Post. There have been .

Judge McKee and Chancellor Kent Syverud (right) at the College of Law’s Commencement on May 6.

The announcement of the scholarship in the name of Judge McKee, a 黑料不打烊 Life Trustee and an honorary member of the College of Law Board of Advisors, came at the college鈥檚 Commencement ceremony on May 6, before the Class of 2022 and Judge McKee鈥檚 family, including several of his judicial clerks.

The Hon. Theodore A. McKee L鈥�75 Endowed Law Scholarship will provide 黑料不打烊 Law students with the education and cultural context to enable them to carry forward the legacy of Judge McKee, who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for more than 27 years.

鈥淭his scholarship honors a College of Law legend and one of its foremost pioneers, who as a jurist has earned praise for his fairness, compassion and incisive questioning from the bench, and whose public service is grounded in a deep concern for social justice,” says Dean Craig M. Boise. “The Alexanders’ generous gift ensures that Judge McKee’s legacy is enshrined at the college and that, in his name, we can assist and inspire students whose backgrounds and experiences will bring diverse perspectives to the college and the practice of law.鈥�

Judge McKee graduated from the College of Law in 1975 magna cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honorary Law Society. He began his legal career in private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before entering public service as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He then served as deputy city solicitor for Philadelphia, as a lecturer at Rutgers Law School and as general counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Judge McKee first took the bench in 1984 on the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. After a decade of service, he was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President William J. Clinton in 1994, receiving his confirmation and commission later that same year. Judge McKee served as the court鈥檚 chief judge from 2010-16.

As to the scholarship, Richard and Emily Alexander said, 鈥淲e are delighted to be able to honor Judge McKee鈥檚 distinguished service to our country, his commitment to social justice and his passion for 黑料不打烊 by supporting scholarships to deserving students in the College of Law.鈥�

Upon hearing the news of the Alexanders’ gift, Judge McKee said, 鈥淚 am humbled beyond words by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Alexander family in endowing a scholarship in my honor. The legal education I received from 黑料不打烊 has allowed me to compete with graduates of any law school in the country, and I am very thankful that this scholarship will help me to give back to the university that has done so much for me.鈥�

For more information, or to contribute to the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L鈥�75 Endowed Law Scholarship, please contact Assistant Dean for Advancement and External Affairs Sophie Dagenais at 315.443.1964 or sulaw@syr.edu.

The new members are Steven R. Becker 鈥�73, Raquel-Ann 鈥淩oxi鈥� Nurse McNabb 鈥�98, G鈥�99, Sandra Cordova Micek 鈥�91, Edward G. Mitzen 鈥�88 and Michael R. Venutolo 鈥�77.

鈥淭he board welcomes these new members and is grateful for the passion and purpose they bring to their new role,鈥� says Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen A. Walters 鈥�73. 鈥淚 am especially impressed with how they have each demonstrated their commitment to our shared values through their service-driven work and philanthropy. Each brings unique experiences and wisdom that will help guide us through the challenges facing higher education.鈥�

Chancellor Kent Syverud says these eminent and diverse professionals bring tremendous value to the governance process. 鈥淲e are grateful that these accomplished alumni are willing to commit their time and resources to 黑料不打烊. Their dedication to 黑料不打烊 will ensure this generation of students and generations to come have opportunities for academic, personal and professional success,鈥� Chancellor Syverud says.

Steven R. Becker 鈥�73

Becker is executive vice president, treasurer and compliance officer for the nation鈥檚 largest distributor of wine and spirits, Southern Glazer鈥檚 Wine and Spirits, which operates in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. He is responsible for the company鈥檚 treasury management functions, including bank relationships, cash management, mortgages, leases, real estate transactions and all financings. Additionally, he is responsible for managing the company鈥檚 government affairs on both a state and national basis, and compliance with all regulatory aspects of the business.

Steven R. Becker ’73

Prior to Southern, Becker worked for Knickerbocker Liquors Corporation, first as a sales manager of the New York distributor鈥檚 wine division, eventually becoming assistant general sales manager and then assistant to the president.

Becker serves on the Martin J. Whitman School of Management Advisory Board, the Franklin Supply Chain Advisory Board and the Hillel Board of Governors. The naming of the Steven R. Becker Professor of Supply Chain Management听reflects his commitment to his alma mater.

He graduated in 1973 with a B.S. in finance from the Whitman School. He earned a J.D. from the School of Law at Boston University in 1976 and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1978.

Becker and his wife, Abbe, live in Boca Raton, Florida, and have two adult children, Robert 鈥�05 (Whitman School) and Meredith.

Raquel-Ann 鈥淩oxi鈥� Nurse McNabb 鈥�98, G鈥�99

Raquel-Ann 鈥淩oxi鈥� Nurse McNabb 鈥�98, G鈥�99

McNabb is a well-known public figure, philanthropist and advocate for making athletics accessible to all youth. She founded the Caris Sports Foundation in 2019 to give young athletes in Arizona the opportunity to participate in organized sports by removing financial obstacles and covering the costs associated with recreational and competitive sports, from equipment to registration fees. She is also the co-founder with her husband, Life Trustee Donovan McNabb 鈥�98, of the Donovan McNabb Fund, and a partner in their philanthropy.

McNabb is a 1998 graduate of 黑料不打烊, earning a B.S. in physical education from the School of Education with a minor in history. She was the point guard on the women鈥檚 basketball team, was named Most Valuable Player twice and Athlete of the Year in 1997, and made the Big E邪褧t academic all-star team thr械械 times.

In 1999, she earned an M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. She also earned a master of education in educational policy from the University of Pennsylvania in 2007. She serves as the nomination chair on the School of Education Board of Visitors.

For 黑料不打烊, the McNabbs have supported athletics, including naming the 黑料不打烊 Women鈥檚 Basketball team lounge and the School of Education with the creation of the Donovan McNabb and Raquel-Ann Nurse McNabb Graduate Assistant endowed fund.

McNabb and her husband live in Phoenix with their four children, Alexis, Sariah, Donovan Jr. and Devin.

Sandra Cordova Micek 鈥�91

Micek is president and CEO of WTTW|WFMT (Window to the World Communications Inc.). WTTW is Chicago鈥檚 PBS station and WFMT is its classical music radio station. She has over 30 years of management experience in media and marketing.

Sandra Cordova Micek 鈥�91

Prior to WTTW|WFMT, Micek was the senior vice president of Global Brands at Hyatt where she oversaw marketing for 15 brands, and co-led the diversity resource group, Latinos at Hyatt. Micek has also held senior management roles at USA TODAY/Gannett, NBC Universal, Turner Broadcasting and Yahoo and was a management consultant in the media, entertainment and telecommunications strategy practice at Accenture in San Francisco and London. In her professional career, she has earned numerous awards, including a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

Micek earned a B.S. in television, radio and film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was the Ford Motor Company Scholar.

Micek serves on the boards of PBS, Kartemquin Films, Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Community Trust and the Economic Club of Chicago. She was the McCormick Foundation Fellow in Leadership Greater Chicago鈥檚 Daniel Burnham Program and is a member of The Commercial Club and the Association of Latino Professionals for America.

Her 黑料不打烊 service includes serving as chair of the Newhouse School Advisory Board, and she created the Cordova Micek family scholarship to expand opportunities for Latinas to attend the University.

Micek lives in the Chicago metropolitan area with her husband, Marc Micek 鈥�92 (Newhouse/Whitman), and their two children.

Edward G. Mitzen 鈥�88

Mitzen is the co-founder of The Business for Good Foundation (BFG), a nonprofit dedicated to using entrepreneurial and business skills to elevate those in underserved communities by focusing on venture philanthropy, entrepreneur support and impact giving. Mitzen and his wife, Lisa Mitzen, founded BFG to 鈥渋nvest in people to build better businesses, stronger communities and a more equitable world.鈥�

Edward G. Mitzen 鈥�88

Mitzen also founded Fingerpaint, a full-service health and wellness advertising and marketing firm. He is a serial entrepreneur, having started four companies that total over $1 billion in combined revenues, including Palio, a communications agency that was later purchased by Syneos Health.

He is a frequent lecturer on entrepreneurship and philanthropy at universities, and a frequent contributor to Forbes, Fortune and other business publications. His first book, 鈥淢ore Than a Number鈥� was published in 2019.

Mitzen was named Saratoga Living 鈥淧erson of the Year,鈥� 鈥淓xecutive of the Year鈥� by the Albany Business Review and Med Ad News 鈥�Industry Person of the Year.鈥� He has also been a two-time finalist for E&Y 鈥淓ntrepreneur of the Year.鈥�

Mitzen graduated in 1988 with a B.S. in biology from the College of Arts and Sciences. He also received an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester in 1995.

His 黑料不打烊 service includes membership on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board. Mitzen has supported the Arts and Sciences鈥� Dean鈥檚 Fund and the SUSTAIN Program endowment.

Mitzen and his wife, Lisa, live on a farm in Saratoga Springs, New York. Mitzen has three adult children: Emily, Nicholas and Grace. 听

Michael R. Venutolo 鈥�77

Venutolo is the managing director of the Raymond International Group, an industrial machinery manufacturing company which is a听 leader in the worldwide engineering and construction industry, and specializes in engineering and construction services, fabrication, installation and maintenance of pipelines for the water, oil, gas and petrochemical industries. The Raymond International Group has operated in the Pipeline Services and Specialized Construction business in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East for more than 40 years.

Michael R. Venutolo 鈥�77

Venutolo earned a B.S. degree from the College of Engineering and Computer Science in 1977, where he majored in civil engineering.

His 黑料不打烊 service includes being a founding member of the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) Regional Council, the first regional council established by the University outside of the United States.

Venutolo established a unique internship for College of Engineering and Computer Science students. To date, 30 civil and environmental engineering students have been sponsored to study various potable water supply and transmission technologies on the arid Arabian Peninsula.

Venutolo provided support for the Construction Engineering Lab in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and has participated as a judge for Invent@SU.

Venutolo and his wife, Kim, live in London and New Jersey. He has three adult children.

David Bruen 鈥�23, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School, was reelected as president of the Student Association and will serve a second term as an undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees. Yousr Dhaouadi 鈥�17, a doctoral student in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, was reelected as president of the Graduate Student Organization and will serve a second term as the graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees.

These student representatives are joined by academic dean representative Craig Boise, dean of the College of Law; faculty representative Lori Brown, professor of architecture and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the School of Architecture; and staff representative 听Maithreyee (Mai) Dub茅 鈥�96, 鈥�16, G鈥�17, who leads the enrollment team at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), as the representatives to the Board of Trustees for the 2022-23 academic year.

These representatives of the campus community share their diverse perspectives and insights with the Board and its various committees and serve as vital voices in helping the University implement strategic objectives in support of its mission and vision.

Craig Boise

Craig Boise

Boise came to 黑料不打烊 in 2016 as dean of the College of Law and professor of law, bringing extensive experience in academic leadership and a passion for innovation in legal education. In his years as dean here and at Cleveland State University鈥檚 Cleveland-Marshall School of Law, he established one of the nation鈥檚 two largest hybrid online J.D. programs, the first online joint J.D./MBA program, one of the earliest master of legal studies programs for non-lawyers, the nation鈥檚 first law school-based incubator for solo practitioners and a 鈥渞isk-free鈥� J.D. program granting a master鈥檚 degree in law to students who elect not to pursue a law career after successfully completing their first year of law school.

Boise was appointed to the Advisory Council of the newly formed American Bar Association Legal Education Police Practices Consortium, where he leads efforts that promote better policing practices throughout the United States. Prior to his academic career, Boise practiced tax law. He earned a law degree from the University of Chicago and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also engaged in real estate and police work before pursuing a law career.

Boise is serving the second year of his two-year term as academic dean representative during the 2022-23 academic year. He participates, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Academic Affairs Committee, and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Lori Brown

Lori Brown

Brown is an architect, professor of architecture (since 2001) and director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the School of Architecture. Prior to teaching, Brown worked as an architect in New York City and remains focused on the relationship between architecture and social justice issues, especially gender and its impact on spatial relationships. She co-founded and leads ArchiteXX, a women and architecture group bridging the academy and practice, that fosters, mentors and creates opportunities for women architects, designers and students of all ages.

Brown received a bachelor of science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master of architecture degree from Princeton University. She was recently honored with The Architectural League鈥檚 2021 Emerging Voices award, given to individuals and firms with distinct design voices that have the potential to influence the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. Brown was elevated to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows in February 2022.

Brown is serving the second year of her two-year term as faculty representative during the 2022-23 academic year. She participates, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Academic Affairs Committee, and reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Maithreyee (Mai)听Dub茅

Mai Dub茅

Dub茅 leads the enrollment team at the IVMF, collaborating with program managers and field partners in assessing the entrepreneurial, education and training needs of veterans and military family members to identify the best programs to help them transition from service to civilian life.

Prior to joining IVMF in October 2015, Dub茅 worked at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Education for three years in the teaching and leadership department managing twelve graduate programs.

Previously, Dub茅 worked with New Horizons of 黑料不打烊 and Rochester where she was responsible for the development and facilitation of classes in leadership and professional development. She also worked in the financial services industry as a senior learning and performance specialist and a banking officer. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees at The Gifford Foundation.

Dub茅 holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology, an MBA from the Whitman School and a certificate of advanced study in conflict resolution from the Maxwell School.

Dub茅 is serving the second year of her two-year term as the inaugural staff representative during the 2022-23 academic year. She reports to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings. Because of her experience in enrollment services, she also participates, ex officio, on the Board鈥檚 Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee.

David Bruen 鈥�23

David Bruen

Bruen is studying political science and policy studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School and is serving a second term as president of the Student Association. Bruen was previously speaker of the assembly as well as Board of Elections Chair for the Student Association. Bruen is also a Phanstiel Scholar and has been deeply involved in local politics in his hometown of West Nyack and Rockland County, New York. He interned with his state senator and congresswoman, fueling his passion for public service and government. In 2017, he earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout, having participated in scouting from the age of 6.

Bruen serves as one of two undergraduate student representatives to the Board for the 2022-23 academic year, his second year in this role. He will participate, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee and will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Yousr Dhaouadi

Yousr Dhaouadi

Dhaoudi is a fifth-year Ph.D. chemical engineering candidate in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering. She is serving her second term as the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) president, having previously served as GSO comptroller and financial secretary. Dhaouadi is an international student from Tunisia who lived in the United Arab Emirates prior to coming to 黑料不打烊. She transferred from American University of Sharjah in the UAE in 2015 as an undergraduate in chemical engineering, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2017 and then enrolled in the Ph.D. program in 2018. She is conducting research in Professor Dacheng Ren鈥檚 lab with a focus on understanding persister cells residing in biofilms and its involvement in the resistance of chronic bacterial infections.

Dhaouadi will serve a second term as the graduate student representative to the Board for the 2022-23 academic year. She will participate, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Academic Affairs and Enrollment and the Student Experience Committees and will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Alexis Telga

Alexis Telga

Telga is a third-year law student in the College of Law. She is a student-attorney in the transactional law clinic and a legal communications and research teaching assistant for Adjunct Professor Kristen Walker. She is also the administrative editor for the Journal of International Law and Commerce.

Prior to attending the College of Law, Telga served on the Board of Trustees at her undergraduate institution, Keuka College. Her board obligations were accompanied by several other leadership responsibilities, including her service as both the senior class and student body president of the college.

As the law student representative to the Board for the 2022-23 academic year, Telga will participate, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Academic Affairs and Enrollment and the Student Experience Committees and report to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Dylan Blaine France听

Dylan Blaine France

France is a junior majoring in finance in the Whitman School and minoring in global political economy in the Maxwell School. She is a Whitman Leadership Scholar and a member of the Ren茅e Crown Honors Program. France was recently named a junior analyst in the Orange Value Fund. She is a finance board member with the 黑料不打烊 Student Association and a Whitman representative in Assembly.

Additionally, France is the secretary and a founding member of the 黑料不打烊 Black Student Union. In her many areas of service and engagement, France acts as a voice for her fellow students and an advocate for change. She is committed to transparency in financial reporting; diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives; and equitable University policies.

France will serve as one of two undergraduate student representatives to the Board for the 2022-23 academic year. She will participate, ex officio, on the Board of Trustees鈥� Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee and will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full Board meetings.

Mike Tirico ’88

Tirico, who earned a B.A. in political science from A&S | Maxwell and a B.S. in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School in 1988, is host and play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports Group. At NBC he covers an array of high-profile sporting events including “Sunday Night Football,” the Summer and Winter Olympics (which he hosted), select golf telecasts and other major events.

Tirico joined NBC after 25 years as one of the signature voices on ESPN/ESPN Radio and ABC Sports, including assignments for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” the NBA, college basketball, golf, tennis and other major events. He previously hosted the nationally syndicated “Mike Tirico Show” on ESPN Radio, launched in 2007 from the studios of WAER-FM鈥攖he same public radio station at 黑料不打烊 where Tirico began his broadcasting career. In 2010, Tirico was named Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA), an award voted on by his industry peers.

鈥淭o be a successful broadcaster on the global stage is a form of diplomacy. It requires the ability to connect with diverse people while navigating potentially sensitive issues across cultures and values, and political and economic systems,鈥� says David M. Van Slyke, the Maxwell School鈥檚 dean. 鈥淢ike鈥檚 dexterity in addressing challenging issues like human rights and structural racism, and health and economic disparities while never losing sight of his audience is what makes him stand apart in his profession and as an alumnus of Maxwell and the College of Arts and Sciences.鈥�

Tirico was elected to the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees in 2016, where he serves on the Advancement and External Affairs Committee, and Enrollment and the Student Experience Committee; the National Campaign Council Executive Committee; the Subcommittee for Marketing and Communications; and the Free Speech Trustee Advisory Group.

He and his wife, Deborah Gibaratz Tirico 鈥�89 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management), have established the Mike Tirico Scholarship Endowment and supported other initiatives in the Maxwell, Newhouse and Whitman Schools, WAER public media organization, and 黑料不打烊 Athletics.

For his service and commitment to the University, Tirico received the George Arents Award (2005) and the University鈥檚 Outstanding Young Alumni Award (1996).

黑料不打烊 will take place May 12鈥�15. will be held Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m. in Hendricks Chapel. The College of Arts and Sciences | Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Undergraduate Convocation Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 14, at 8:30 a.m. in the stadium. will be held on Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel.