Board Report: June 2007
by Stephen J. Ciesinski '70, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Dear Friends of Union:
This is my last report to you as Union's Chairman of the Board of Trustees. I hope to provide some more detailed reflections at a later time, but, meanwhile, let me just relate my appreciation to all of you in the Union Community for all of the support and cooperation I have received during my five year tenure. It's truly been a privilege to serve you and I hope you will continue to contribute so generously in volunteering your time and energy to our school.
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The Board of Trustees met recently during a ReUnion Weekend that set yet another new record for attendance. ReUnion Weekend also featured the unveiling of a portrait of the late Christina Sorum, beloved dean of faculty; the dedication of Breazzano House; and the election of new officers of the Board of Trustees.
I am pleased to announce that the board has elected Frank L. Messa '73 as the new chairman. Frank, well known by all who love Union, has long been a valuable member of the Board of Trustees, playing key roles in everything from fundraising to selecting our president, Stephen C. Ainlay. He is uniquely qualified to lead this board as we embark on our next chapter.
Also at the June 2 meeting, Mark Walsh '76 was elected vice chairman; Estelle Cooke Sampson M.D. '74, secretary; and Lawrence Pedowitz '69, general counsel.
Please join me and the Board of Trustees in congratulating Frank and our new board leadership team.
To learn more about our new trustee leadership, please visit here.
ReUnion 2007
Once again, Nick Famulare and his colleagues in College Relations did a wonderful job with ReUnion. More than 1,500 alumni and guests returned for a busy weekend that included the ReUnion Parade; a lecture and conversation with mystery crime writer Kerrie Ticknor Droban '87; performances of Aristophanes' The Birds in Yulman Theater; and an amazing fireworks display courtesy of Steve Ente '75.
Lee Davenport, Class of 1937, former chief scientist and vice president for GTE Corp.; Joseph Hinchey '47, an executive with General Dynamics and Texas Instruments; and John Temple '67, an executive with Deloitte and Touche consulting firm; received Alumni Gold Medals from the College's Alumni Council. All three are former trustees of the College. Hilary Tann, the John Howard Payne Professor of Music, received the faculty meritorious service award. A native of Wales, Tann has been recognized internationally as a composer.
New York City Attorney Mark Zauderer '67 received the Eliphalet Nott Medal, which recognizes the perseverance of alumni who have attained distinction in their field. Zauderer is a prominent litigator who has been an advocate for cameras in the courtrooms and also chaired a panel that led a reform of the state's jury system.
Also at ReUnion, the College recognized six leaders for their achievement in engineering. They were Jonathan Comeau, Class of 1997, electrical engineering, principal electrical engineer for Tyco Electronics; Richard Fateman '66, computer science, professor of computer science at University of California at Berkeley; Lisa Freed '86, civil engineering, a civil engineer and landscape architect for Brown & Brown; Lawrence Hollander, dean of engineering emeritus at Union College; Ivan Kaminow '52, electrical engineering, retired scientist with Bell Labs; and Samuel Tolkoff '96, civil engineering, director of business development for Foster-Miller, an advanced robotics and health sciences firm.
Christie Sorum was memorialized in a stunning portrait by Prof. Walter Hatke of Visual Arts. Walter did a remarkable job capturing the likeness of Christie, who died two years ago. At the unveiling, many spoke of Christie´s passion for teaching the classics, her tireless devotion to Union and her rare gifts as a faculty mentor and administrator. Her portrait hangs in Hale House, where she often remarked, "We need more portraits of women in here."
David J. Breazzano '78, who made a generous gift of $2 million recently, was honored by the dedication of Breazzano House, the Minerva formerly known as Orange House. Dave not only gives to his school financially, but also gives of his time, serving as a trustee of Union. Dave is co-founder and principal of an investment management firm in Waltham, Mass. He has three sons including, Jeremy '07, a member of the Minerva that bears his family name. We have late word that yet another son has decided to attend Union in the fall.
Strategic plan
A good portion of our spring meeting was spent discussing the first steps toward implementing the College's Strategic Plan, with particular attention to diversity, global education and student retention. The plan, adopted last February, already has been important in guiding a number of initiatives including the development of more international experiences, the proposed renovation and expansion of the Science and Engineering Center, and the construction of new electronic classrooms in Social Sciences. If you have not seen the plan, I urge you to do so at: www.union.edu/strategic.
The trustees were pleased to approve the tenure and promotion to associate professor of two dedicated faculty members: Judith Lewin of English, and John Zumbrunnen of Political Science.
In Student Affairs, the board reviewed emergency procedures currently in place in the event of a crisis on campus, in light of the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech. President Ainlay has already established a group to determine if there are any new ideas coming forth from the aftermath of VT that should be implemented.
The President's Commission on Building a Better Community, established in Spring 2006 under Interim President Jim Underwood, has issued a report that makes a number of important recommendations all aimed at developing a stronger sense of community at Union. The commission, chaired by Cherrice Traver, dean of engineering; and Jim McLaughlin, director of athletics, has done an excellent job in advancing some of the priorities set out in the Strategic Plan. President Ainlay has set a meeting between senior staff and commission members to begin implementation.
In admissions, we have emerged from a tumultuous market with a strong new class, with exceptional academic and extracurricular credentials. It's gratifying to know that Union continues to attract such high caliber students as our reputation grows nationally.
In communications, we were informed of some noteworthy news: Mike O'Hara has taken on the role of director of communications in addition to his responsibilities in development. Mike is well known for his commitment to the College and for his contagious enthusiasm for generating support. The Web staff is implementing a Content Management System that will greatly enhance the look and functionality of the already stellar web site. In publications, we have published "We Are Union," a new piece intended to communicate what it means to be a part of Union and to convey the things we celebrate and value. The piece has been well received by prospective and current students alike. Besides the dozens of "media hits" in local and regional press, the College is to be featured in a New York Times article this summer on the Minervas. Many have also noticed the fine articles by Binyavanga Wainaina, writer in residence, in the current issues of Vanity Fair and Harper's.
The College's fiscal condition remains excellent. The board approved a 2007-08 operating budget that meets the demands of providing a first-rate education while keeping the Union education as accessible as possible, with about 22 percent of the $124 million budget earmarked for financial aid. The College's investments have performed very well, raising our endowment to $365 million. We thank all of our generous donors as well as the Investment Committee, whose efforts and policies bring us great returns, and continue to rank us among the elite in endowment investment performance. In fundraising, the "You are Union" campaign recently surpassed the $124 million mark and remains on track due to the leadership of Vice President Tom Gutenberger and trustees Mark Walsh and Frank Messa.
Trustee news
I had the privilege of thanking a number of trustees who completed their service to the board. We greatly appreciate their service and contributions and we wish them continued success and happiness.
Robert E. Cummings Jr. '71, a trustee since 1993, has brought top-notch financial management and business acumen to the Board. He is a partner and managing director at Goldman, Sachs and Company and holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Colin P. Farrill '07, has served with distinction as a student member of the Board since 2005. On Prize Day, Colin was a recipient of a Delphic Honor Society Award, given to juniors and seniors who have made an exemplary contribution to the Union College community. As an active student and Student Forum member, he has provided the Board with valuable insight.
Mary Ann Maclean, trustee since 1995, has served many roles, among them chairing the Facilities and Environment Committee, and a member of the Student Affairs and Admissions Committee and the Executive Committee of the Board. Mary Ann is the mother of Adrian MacLean Jay '98 and has been an active and generous supporter of Union.
Fred Pressley '75 trustee since 1992, has been a consummate Union champion, serving on several trustee committees: Facilities and Environment, Student Affairs and Admissions, and Nominations. He has been a strong and consistent advocate for promoting diversity on campus, at one point leading the establishment of a scholarship to honor the legacy of Professor Twitty J. Styles, himself a strong promoter of diversity.
Norton H. Reamer '58, a trustee since 1973 and former chairman of the board, was named Trustee Emeritus. A true "son of Union," his dedication and generosity to his alma mater are exemplarary. Norton earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School. In 1980, he founded United Asset Management Corp., serving as chairman, president and CEO for 20 years. He dedicated the Murray and Ruth Reamer Campus Center in honor of his parents. He was a major contributor to the renovation and expansion of Schaffer Library. When speaking about his years as a Trustee and College volunteer, he said, "It is an opportunity to do something for a wonderful institution that is small enough so that even one person can make a real difference." Indeed, Norton has made a huge difference, and we can't honor him enough for his leadership.
Jennifer Smith Turner '74, on the board since 2002, is a business executive, author and Union pioneer who has long maintained her support for the College. In 1970, she was one of seven African-American women on campus and part the first coeducational class. She brought to Union her experience from her management consulting firm, her tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development, and six years as a trustee of the University of Connecticut.
We elected two new term trustees: John J. Castellani '72, president of the Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C.; and Robert D. Bertagna '85, managing director of Lehman Brothers. In addition, Shanique Kerr '09 will be joining the board as the junior student trustee, and John Vero '97, an attorney in Albany, joins the board as the new president of the Alumni Council. Jason Oshins '87, an attorney and legal commentator, who previously served as president of the Alumni Council, transitions to alumni trustee.
Union is blessed with extraordinary talent on its board, and the successes of the past years would not have been possible without my fellow trustees' dedication and hard work. As the Hebrew script on the Nott Memorial reminds us, the task is great but so is the reward. I look forward to seeing even more great things come from our school, and from those who apply the education from Union to their passion in life. Have a wonderful summer!
Steve Ciesinski '70
Chairman, Board of Trustees