Harpur College Advocacy Council

Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. – Principal (ret.)

Major: Psychology

Bio: Rich Alpern earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Harpur College in 1969. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the New York University School of Law in 1972, and was admitted to the New York Bar the following year. For 24 years he served as special counsel at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York, concentrating on executive compensation and employee benefits matters, and most recently retired as a principal at Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., an executive compensation consulting firm. Alpern is co-author of the book Guide to Change of Control: Protecting Companies and Their Executives (2001).

He, along with his wife, Sandy Alpern '70, are long-time volunteers and supporters of Harpur College and ��. Rich Alpern is a steering committee member, chair emeritus of the Harpur Law Council of �� and the 2013 recipient of the �� Alumni Association Medal of Distinguished Service Award for Harpur College. He is the 2001 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Science and Mathematics and the 2002 recipient of the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumnus Award. Rich Alpern participates in numerous student and alumni events annually and has generously hosted Harpur events in his home.

Jay S. Benet '74

Travelers Insurance Company – Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

Major: Mathematical Sciences

Bio: Jay S. Benet earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences from Harpur College in 1974. Since 2005 Benet has been the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Travelers. Before this position Benet held several senior level executive positions including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and served in the same positions at Travelers Property Casualty. He served as the worldwide head of financial planning, analysis and reporting at Citigroup and Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup's Global Consumer Europe, Middle East and Africa unit. Before this he spent 10 years in various executive positions with Traveler’s Life & Annuity. Prior to joining Traveler’s Life & Annuity he was a partner of Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).

Benet is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He is the 2010 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Science and Mathematics and a sponsor for the Liberal Arts to Careers Externship (LACE) program. He has returned to campus to speak with students and guest lecture in classes.

Neil E. Botwinoff '78

Tannenbaum, Helpern, Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP – Partner

Major: Economics

Bio: Neil Botwinoff earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Harpur College in 1978 and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo Law School. Botwinoff is a Partner at Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP in New York City. He concentrates in real estate law, representing clients in connection with sales and acquisitions, leasing and financing of properties. A substantial part of his practice relates to shopping center and urban development, representing landlords and tenants in "big box" retail lease transactions and New York City commercial office leasing transactions.

Botwinoff began his career as an Associate at Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl. He served as the 2014-15 co-chair of the SUNY Buffalo Law School Annual Fund and served as the President of the SUNY Buffalo Greater New York Alumni Association from 1988-1999. In 2012, he received the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter’s Board Recognition Award for his pro bono services.

Botwinoff is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and �� University and has participated in numerous alumni events.

Doris Braun ’83

J.P. Morgan Chase – Executive Director

Major: German

Bio: Doris Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in German from Harpur College in 1983. She is Executive Director of Leadership Edge at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Braun’s led an accomplished career in banking. She spent 18 years in Deutsche Bank’s Global Transaction Bank as America’s regional head of account management and service. She set up support teams in Argentina, Brazil and San Francisco, and global client service teams across Europe and Asia.

In 2010, Braun became the vice president of partner relations at Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a career development institution. She is a New York University Certified Coach and founder of Leadership Solutions for Women. She coaches career-minded women in corporate America to help them advance in their careers, transition careers and develop their leadership and executive presence. She also works with corporations to help them develop their next generation of leaders. In addition, Braun is a senior trainer and performance consultant for Dale Carnegie Training in New York City. She works with corporations and financial institutions to create programs that develop and engage the organizations’ employees.

Braun is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. She is the 2006 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities. Braun is a former member of the �� Foundation Board of Directors. She has served as a speaker, panelist and participant for numerous alumni events, most recently the 2015 Women’s Leadership Conference and the 2016 BOLD Alumnae Panel. Braun served as a member of the Alumni Leaders Conference Planning Committee in 2016.

Gabrielle Carlin Sherb '05 - (co-chair)

Anti-Defamation League – Director of Development

Major: Political Science and Italian

Bio: Gabrielle Carlin Sherb earned her bachelor's degree in Political Science and Italian from Harpur College in 2005. She earned her master's degree in Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from the Baruch College Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

Sherb is the Vice President of Development & Donor Engagement at United Way of the National Capital Area. She is an expert in creating and reinvigorating fundraising and development programs for large organizations. Prior to her current role she served as Vice President of Development for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. She was the Director of Development for the Anti-Defamation League for both the New York and Washington, D.C. regions. Sherb worked for the Jewish National Fund (JNF) as a Campaign Executive, specializing in emerging and generational philanthropy. During her time at JNF, she was awarded Fundraising Success Magazine's 2009 Rising Star Award and in 2011 was selected as one of the Jewish Week's "36 under 36" recognizing young educators, thinkers, social justice activists, philanthropists and artists reinventing Jewish life.

Sherb is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and �� and currently serves as the Council's Co-chair, Membership Chair, and is leading the Diversity Objective for the Council. As a student at ��, she was an active member of student life, serving as a Resident Assistant (2002–2004) and co-founder of the "Prospect," a campus news journal.

Originally from Hillsdale, NJ, Gabrielle and her husband, Cory, recently moved to Washington DC and live in its Northwest neighborhood. She enjoys spending time with family, friends and music.

Stephanie Courtney '92

Progressive Insurance - Flo

Major: English

Bio: Stephanie Courtney earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Harpur College in 1992.

Courtney is an actress and improviser who is well known for playing "Flo" in the Progressive Insurance commercials which have been running since 2008.

Ad Age recently named her one of the top female ad icons of all time, on a list that included Rosie the Riveter and Betty Crocker. Stephanie's television credits include You're The Worst, Mad Men, House, 2 Broke Girls, The Comeback, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Men of a Certain Age, and the upcoming Netflix show With Bob and David.

On film she can be seen in The Heartbreak Kid, The Brothers Solomon, Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration, and Melvin Goes to Dinner directed by Bob Odenkirk. Stephanie is a long time performer at The Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. She was a main company member for several years and still performs regularly in The Crazy Uncle Joe Show, a weekly long-form improv show.

Courtney is the 2015 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities and participated as a commencement speaker.

Molly Donnellan '84

Gilbane Federal - Senior Contracts Administrator

Major: Political Science

Bio: Molly Donnellan earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Harpur College in 1984.

Donnellan is Senior Contracts Administrator at ITSI Gilbane Company. She has over 20 years of experience in contract negotiation, contract administration, cost and schedule tracking, subcontracting and cost accounting for commercial, state government, local government and federal government contracts.

Prior to joining Gilbane, Donnellan served as Director of Contracts Administration at CB&I and at IT Corporation.

She is a long-time supporter of Harpur College and ��.

Randy Ann Ehrenberg '67

North Colonie Central School District – Superintendent (ret.)

Major: English

Bio: Randy Ann Ehrenberg earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Harpur College in 1967, a MAT degree in English Education from Northwestern University, and a CAS in Education Administration from SUNY Cortland. She spent 17 years as a teacher in Evanston Ill. and Amherst Mass., teaching in both rural and urban settings, then spent the next 25 years as a school building and district administrator within the Ithaca School District. She served more than 9 years as the Superintendent of Schools of the North Colonie Central School District in the Albany, NY area, a district that consistently ranks at the top of the 85 districts in the Capital region because of its students’ high academic performance and its low expenditures per student.

Ehrenberg has published articles on the teaching of English and on budgetary and administrative issues. In 1993 she was selected as New York’s Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators’ Association of New York. She served as chair of the New York State Association for Women in Educational Leadership and in 2007 received its Pathfinder Award. In 2010, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS). Ehrenberg has given talks for NYSCOSS to aspiring superintendents and practicing superintendents, as an instructor in the NYSCOSS Teaching Academy, and has taught in graduate level classes at SUNY Albany and the College of Saint Rose on Educational Administration. She also served on the faculty of the Superintendents’ Development Program (SUNY/Oswego) and given talks for the NYS School Board Association. Ehrenberg continues to serve on a variety of boards and as an educational consultant and author.

Ehrenberg and her husband, Ronald Ehrenberg ’66, SD ’08, are long-time supporters of Harpur College and ��. She is the 2010 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities. Ehrenberg has assisted with the selection process for the Harpur Fellows Program and is a participant in numerous alumni events including Homecoming Weekend.

Elizabeth Eldridge '98

NYU Langone Health Faculty Group Practice - Director of Professional Billing

Major: Psychobiology (integrated Neuroscience)

Bio: Elizabeth Eldridge earned a Bachelors Degree in Science from Harpur College in 1998. She earned a Masters Degree of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management from NYU Wagner in 2001.

Elizabeth is the Director of Professional Billing for the NYU Langone Health Faculty Group Practice, part of the Robert F Grossman School of Medicine at NYU. She is responsible for overseeing revenue cycle operations for 4,000 physicians and physician extenders She joined NYU Langone in 2011.

Prior to her tenure at NYU, Elizabeth worked in various academic medical centers, leading teams in revenue cycle, training and patient access. She also spent time at KPMP with their advisory service practice in Healthcare, working with pharmaceutical and hospital clients.

Elizabeth enjoyed being active in student life during her time at ��, serving as a Resident Advisor, Orientation Advisor and Tour Guide. She also spent two years on the Crew Team and four years singing with the Rhythm Method.

As an alumna, she has remained committed to engaging with the University and its students, assisting with Metro NY chapter events, speaking to students on campus about careers in Healthcare Administration and participating in Metro NY Career nights for many years. Her passion is in mentorship and she enjoys fostering relationships with the students she meets.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Rochester New York and now lives in Manhattan with her husband and three boys.

Scott Ferrauiola ’87

IBM Watson – Associate General Counsel

Major: Political Science

Bio: Scott Ferrauiola earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Harpur College in 1987 and received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from New York University School of Law.

Ferrauiola is the lead lawyer for IBM Watson Group and IBM Watson Health. Prior to taking these roles, he was the lead lawyer for IBM Global Business Services, North America. He has been a member of the IBM Legal Department since 1995, holding positions in a number of IBM’s business units, including IBM’s Services, Sales & Distribution and Software Groups.

Ferrauiola’s prior assignments include serving as lead lawyer for IBM’s Business Partner channel for midrange hardware and IBM’s Pervasive Computing Division.

Ferrauiola takes pride in building durable relationships with colleagues, partners, and customers, and driving IBM results with creative solutions to client challenges. Prior to joining IBM, he was a Corporate Associate at Weil, Gothsal & Manges in New York City, specializing in M&A, securities and lender transactions. Ferrauiola is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College. He is a lecturer and the 2016 host for the HARP 300 winter session course, Current Issues in Legal Practice.

Karen Feuer ’87

Chief of Staff, Office of the President, S&P Global Ratings

Major: Biology

Bio: Karen Feuer graduated from Harpur College with a concentration in biology and a minor in history. She earned her MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a Master of Science in Communication from Northwestern University. Ms. Feurer is the Chief of Staff, in the Office of the President at S&P Global Ratings. She is a senior executive with substantial experience in chief of staff function, communications, employee engagement, corporate strategy, strategic planning, business development, product management, product development, marketing, and investor relations. Prior to her current role, she served as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development and Vice President of Strategic Planning at S&P Global Ratings, formerly Standard & Poor’s.

Ms. Feuer volunteers as a mentor for American Corporate Partners (ACP) and serves as an Invest It Forward/InvestWrite Volunteer for the SIFMA Foundation. She also serves as an Admissions Volunteer for �� and a volunteer for City Harvest.

Adam Fox ’92

Associate Professor of Surgery and Section Chief, Trauma, Rutgers NJMS, Eric Munoz Trauma Center @ University Hospital

Major: Political Science

Bio: Dr. Fox graduated from Harpur College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He attended both the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in General Surgery and completed his fellowship training in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Pennsylvania. After his fellowship he joined the faculty in the Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently Associate Professor of Surgery and Section Chief of Trauma at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Eric Munoz Trauma Center @ University Hospital in Newark.

Dr. Fox has participated in both the International Medical and Surgical Team (IMSuRT) and Project HOPE. As a member of IMSuRT, Dr. Fox is a Medical Officer and participates in disaster response training as The Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama. Dr. Fox is a member of the Trauma and Critical Care Team of the National Medical Surgical Response Team, and the Mobile Acute Care Strike Team of the National Disaster Medical System. He has experience providing emergency surgical and critical care around the world and recently completed training with the Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams.

Michael S. Goldstein ’90

Investment Management – Goldman Sachs

Major: Economics and Political Science

Bio: Michael Goldstein earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Harpur College in 1990. He earned an MBA in Finance from New York University in 1996 and is a CFA charterholder.

Goldstein is co-head of the High Yield and Bank Loan team within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. He joined Goldman Sachs as a managing director in 2010.

Prior to joining the firm, Goldstein was a partner and director at Lord Abbett with responsibility for directing and implementing high yield investment strategies for the firm’s institutional and retail products. He joined Lord Abbett as a high yield bond trader and credit analyst in 1997. Before that, he was an assistant vice president, high yield bond trader and securities analyst at BEA Associates, a unit of Credit Suisse Asset Management. Earlier in his career, he worked at Chase Manhattan Bank.

Goldstein is a volunteer and long-time supporter of Harpur College and �� University. Most recently he participated in a Lunch & Learn Program through Harpur Edge and was a speaker for the Cool/Hot alumni speaker series.

Wayne Greenfeder ’77

Kraemer, Burns, Mytelka, Lovell & Kulka – Partner

Major: Political Science

Bio: Wayne Greenfeder earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Harpur College in 1977, Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law, where he was named to the Law Review. Greenfeder served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Morton I. Greenberg, now on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Greenfeder is an attorney at Kraemer Burns, Pa. in Springfield, NJ. Widely respected for his litigation skills, he concentrates in complex litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage, toxic tort, product liability and commercial matters. Greenfeder's analytical and persuasive abilities have also earned him recognition in appellate matters. Greenfeder represented one of the plaintiffs in the high profile New Jersey Turnpike shooting case obtaining a substantial settlement for the client.

Greenfeder is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and �� University. He returns to campus frequently to speak with students, engage in student-alumni programming and most recently participated as an alumni volunteer for the Negotiations Workshop held during Homecoming Weekend. Greenfeder is a regular attendee at alumni events.

Christian P. Gruber, Jr. ’71

Western Psychological Services – VP R&D (ret.)

Major: English

Bio: Christian P. Gruber, Jr. earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Harpur College in 1971. At Harpur, he served as President of Services for Youth, a campus organization that provided enrichment courses for local high schoolers. He went on to earn an Ed. M. at Harvard and a PhD in Educational and Developmental Psychology at the University of Chicago.

For over 20 years Gruber served as Vice President for Research and Development at Western Psychological Services, guiding the commercial development of several scores of psychological tests, including the major gold standard assessments for diagnosing Autism. He has held leadership roles at the Association of Test Publishers, including a term as President and Board Chair (2008).

Gruber is the son of Pete and Marilynn Gruber—mainstays of Harpur’s early Theatre and English Departments, and the development of the school’s residential college system. His personal passion for the arts has come to focus on Scandinavian fiddling and folk dance with his wife Diane (nee Preisick), a now-retired surgeon, BA Harpur ’73.

Gruber and his wife, Diane, are long-time volunteers and supporters of Harpur College and ��. He is the 2009 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Sunny Hostin ’92

ABC News – Senior Legal Correspondent & Analyst
The View&�Բ��;–&�Բ��;Co-Host

Major: English and Rhetoric

Bio: Asuncion (Sunny) C. Hostin earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Rhetoric from Harpur College in 1992.

Hostin earned her Juris Doctorate from Notre Dame Law School and is a Department of Justice alumna. Sunny Hostin is an attorney and journalist, appearing as Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News. Hostin is also joining “The View” as a Co-Host for their 20th season beginning in September 2016.

Prior to her current role, Hostin appeared regularly on New Day, Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin, AC360 and AC360 Later. She joined CNN in September 2007 as the legal analyst for CNN's American Morning, where she became known for her in-depth analysis of headline grabbing trials and legal issues.

Hostin also created, wrote and co-produced her popular weekly segment, Sunny's Law. Before joining CNN, she was an ABC News anchor and appeared on the Fox News Channel, where she was seen weekly on the Is It Legal segment on The O'Reilly Factor, sparring with Megan Kelly and Bill O'Reilly on various provocative issues and high-profile cases.

Hostin has published numerous popular and scholarly articles in many outlets on topics including securities fraud, ponzi schemes, sex crimes, crimes against women, foreclosures, and everyday financial legal issues. As a federal prosecutor, she was awarded with a Special Achievement Award by then Attorney General Janet Reno for her prosecution of child sexual predators and work with child sex abuse. Hostin was also a Managing Director of Business Intelligence and Investigations at Kroll, the world's leading risk-consulting company.

Hostin is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. She has served as a panelist, a �� TEDx speaker and as keynote speaker at the �� Alumni Association Awards Dinner in 2014.

Alex Huppé ’69

Public Relations Society of America - Consultant (ret.)

Major: English

Bio: Alex Huppé earned a bachelor’s degree in English, with honors, from Harpur College in 1969. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Virginia, where he completed his doctoral coursework before beginning a career as a college instructor and later as a public relations executive.

Huppé has taught at community colleges in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as Boston University and the University of Virginia. He also served as assistant dean for external programs at Boston University's College of Communication and director of the Public Communication Institute. In 1985, Huppé was appointed principal public relations and public information officer at Dartmouth. He joined Harvard in 1995, and as the university's director of public affairs was the chief spokesperson for the university.

Huppé was elected to the Public Relations Society of America in 1980, and cited for distinguished service by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences of New England, an organization that annually awards the Emmys. He was the organizational officer for the Ivy League News Directors from 1988−1991 and on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Boston Public Library.

Currently he remains involved in consulting and in philanthropic activities. He maintains a collection of antique cars, and divides his time between homes in Castine, Maine, and Sarasota, Fla.

His father, Distinguished Professor Bernard F. Huppé, was one of the college's founding faculty members, a leading scholar of medieval literature who helped design and champion Harpur's liberal arts curriculum, and helped steer the college into the first graduate programs that led to the founding of SUNY ��, now known as ��. His brother, Geoffrey Huppé, also graduated from Harpur.

Huppé is long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He is the 1998 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities and the 2009 recipient of the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a member of the �� Foundation Board of Directors and a former member of the �� Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is a frequent participant in alumni events and has hosted a number of events in his home.

Keith A. Hurd '88

Marketing Entertainment Group - President

Major: Music & French (Romance Languages & Literature)

Bio: Keith Hurd earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Harpur College in 1988.

Keith Hurd earned his bachelor's degree in music and Romance Languages & Literature from Harpur College in 1988.

Hurd is the President of Marketing Entertainment Group in NYC. He has been promoting and marketing live entertainment on Broadway and Off Broadway, most recently The Illusionists on Broadway (2015), Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. He is currently Producer of TV series, "Broadway Profiles" on Channel 11 with anchorwoman Tamsen Fadal

He promoted The Lord of The Rings Concerts at Lincoln Center (2015), The Marvel Experience (2014), Mummenschanz (NYC) and Fuerza Bruta (Union Square).

Other Broadway productions include: A Night with Janis Joplin, Liza Minnelli at the Palace, Billy Joel's Movin' Out, The Producers, Fosse, Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate, Swing, Proof, Jackie Mason, Noises Off, Tale of The Allergist's Wife, Jekyll & Hyde, Edward Albee's The Goat, Take Me Out, Victor/Victoria with Julie Andrews and Liza Minnelli, Parade at Lincoln Center and Damn Yankees.

Off Broadway: Potted Potter (2013), Groovaloo, Jackie Mason's The Ultimate Jew, Tuesdays with Morrie and The Immigrant. Hurd also serves as the Executive Producer for The Broadway Channel.

Hurd is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He frequently returns to campus to speak with students interested in theater and the entertainment business. He has hosted interns and assists with theater outings and events for alumni.

Elliot Joseph '76

Hartford HealthCare – President & Chief Executive Officer

Major: Psychology

Bio: Elliot Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harpur College in 1976 and his master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is an alumnus of the Wharton CEO Program for Healthcare Leadership and an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow.

Joseph is the president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare. Throughout his career, he has focused on reshaping healthcare organizations through the building of regional integrated delivery systems and creating and sustaining organizational cultures that reward innovation, accountability and engagement in service to patients and families.

Hartford HealthCare employs more than 18,000 employees and generates $2.4 billion in net revenue. Joseph was previously president and CEO of St. John Health (SJH), a $1.8-billion southeast Michigan health care system. While there, he saw two SJH hospitals named to the top 15 of Thomson Reuters' (formerly Solucient's) Top 100 Major Teaching Hospitals in the U.S. SJH also was named one of Verispan's Top 100 Health Care Systems, and one of AARP's Top 50 Employers.

Joseph is chairman of Hartford HealthCare Indemnity Services LTD and is a member of the Connecticut Hospital Association Board of Trustees for which he chairs the Finance Committee. He is a member of the Greater New York Hospital Association Board of Governors. He serves as the American Hospital Association State alternate delegate and is a member of Regional Policy Board 1. Other board memberships include the Metro Hartford Alliance and Hartford's Bushnell Performing Arts Center. He recently was named “130 Nonprofit Hospitals and Health Systems CEO to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review and one of Hartford's "50 Most Influential People." He hosts a monthly radio show, "Health Care Matters," focused on the transformation of the American health care industry.

Joseph is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. Most recently he served as a panelist for an alumni dialogue event in NYC.

Michael Kerner '86 - (co-chair)

Munich Re – Member of the Board of Management

Major: Economics

Bio:

Mr. Kerner holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and economics from the State University of New York at ��. Mr. Kerner is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Michael Kerner was appointed to the Board of Management of Munich Re, AG on January 1, 2023. He has responsibility for Global Specialty Insurance (GSI), the specialty insurance operations of the Group’s reinsurance business. He serves as President and CEO of Munich American Holding Company and as Chairman of the Board of the legal entities that comprise GSI.

Prior to his current appointment Mr. Kerner was the President and CEO of Munich Re Specialty Insurance, as role he assumed in December, 2018. In this role he leds an organization targeting specialty commercial insurance business in North America.

Prior to joining Munich Re, Mr. Kerner was Executive Vice President and Head of Risk Management and Strategy for Everest Reinsurance. Before his time at Everest, Mr. Kerner was a member of the Zurich Group Executive Committee and CEO General Insurance, a position he took in September 2012. He joined Zurich in 1992 from the Continental Insurance Company and since then held a number of senior executive positions with the company. These included Chief Operations Officer for Zurich North America Specialties and Head of Ceded Reinsurance for Zurich North America from 2002 to 2005. From January 2006 to June 2007, he served as the Global Head of Group Reinsurance and between 2007 and 2009, Mr. Kerner was Global Chief Underwriting Officer for General Insurance and Head of Group Strategy in Zurich. From 2009 until 2012, he was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Zurich Global Corporate in North America.

Bruce David Klein '85

Atlas Media Corp – President and Executive Producer

Major: Psychology and Creative Writing

Bio: Bruce David Klein earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harpur College in 1985.

As President & Executive Producer of Atlas Media Corp, Bruce David Klein is the creative force behind hundreds of hours of high-profile, award-winning unscripted series, specials and theatrical documentaries.

He has created, written, produced and/or executive-produced series and specials such as Hotel Impossible (Travel), Playing with Fire (E!), Stalked: Someone's Watching (ID), Brainwashed (Discovery Channel), Dr. G: Medical Examiner (Discovery Health/TLC), Frenemies (ID), Breaking Vegas (History), and How To Survive The End Of The World (Nat Geo).

He wrote & directed the TV movie Who Killed Chandra Levy? (TLC), the theatrical documentary Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise — and produced the doc films Robert Blecker Wants Me Dead and Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (which premiered at the New York Film Festival in Fall 2016 prior to its theatrical release).

Klein has moderated and appeared on numerous panels for organizations such as NATPE, Real Screen, the Producers Guild, and NYU Film School. His work has been featured and reviewed in publications such as the New York Times, Variety, Crain's NY Business, Entertainment Weekly, and World Screen News.

Klein is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and serves on the Executive Committees of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and the Nonfiction Producers Association (NPA).

Klein is a sponsor for the Liberal Arts to Careers Externship (LACE) program and a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He has served as a guest speaker on campus and as a participant in the employer visit week during the winter session break.

Larry J. Kosmont ’73

Kosmont Companies – President

Major: Political Science

Bio: Larry J. Kosmont earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Harpur College in 1973 and his Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

He is the President and CEO of Kosmont Companies, which he founded in 1986. Kosmont Companies is an industry leader in public/private real estate transactions and public finance. In 1990, he founded Kosmont Realty Corporation (KRC), a company which sources private financing for public projects, P3 initiatives, infrastructure funding and economic development.

Kosmont is also Managing Partner of Renaissance Community Fund, which has invested in and develops mixed use, residential and commercial projects throughout California, and a Principal of California Golden Fund, an approved EB-5 Regional Center.

Kosmont’s 40-year career encompasses public/private financial structuring and negotiations, development, and management of real estate and public finance transactions exceeding $12 billion.

Kosmont has served as Interim City Administrator for the City of Montebello, Calif. and has served in the roles of City Manager, Director of Community Development, and Redevelopment Director in the cities of Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Bell Gardens and Burbank. Kosmont is a registered Municipal Advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a licensed real estate broker in California and a designated Counselor of Real Estate, CRE®. He has served on numerous boards including the Board of Directors for USC Executive Education, as a State Commissioner on the California Economic Development Commission, a Board Advisor for the California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED) and the Los Angeles City Commissioner – Industrial Development Authority.

Kosmont is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��.

Gary S. Levine ’74, MBA ’76

Showtime Networks Inc. – President of Programming

Major: Theater, Arts Management

Bio: Gary earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre from Harpur College in 1974 and his MBA in Arts Management in 1976.

Gary Levine is President of Programming at Showtime. Since he joined Showtime in 2001 he has transformed the network into an acclaimed home of original series that include Homeland, The Affair, Billions, Ray Donovan, Shameless, Nurse Jackie, Weeds, Episodes, The L Word, The Tudors, House of Lies, Masters Of Sex, Penny Dreadful, Californication and Dexter.

Before joining Showtime, Levine served as President of Icebox, a pioneering Internet entertainment company, where he produced 30 flash-animated web series created by “A-list” writers from TV and film.

Previously, Levine headed development at Warner Brothers Television Studio, Witt-Thomas Productions and ABC (drama), resulting in several memorable primetime series including The West Wing, Blossom, and the inimitable Twin Peaks (which he is now reviving with David Lynch for Showtime).

Levine began his professional career in theatre and has produced stints with New York’s Roundabout Theatre, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, and five years as Managing Director of the renowned Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Levine is a Board member of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and a lay cantor at a congregation in Los Angeles. He is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He is a recipient of the 2016 Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award and was a commencement speaker. He is a sponsor for the Liberal Arts to Careers Externship (LACE) program and has returned to campus to speak with students and guest lecture about his career.

Jessica E. Lorden ’83

Council Vice Chair Congregation Kol Ami – Executive Director

Major: Political Science

Bio: Jess Lorden earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Harpur College in 1983 and received her Juris Doctorate from Duke University School of Law in 1986.

Lorden is the Executive Director for the Kol Ami Congregation in White Plains, NY. She has been a member of the congregation for more than 20 years, serving as an active volunteer for more than 10 years. Lorden served as a Co-Chair for the Religious School Committee and in 2006 became a Kol Ami Trustee. She served as the Secretary of the Kol Ami Board and became Vice President in 2012.

Lorden began her career in the legal field. Upon graduation from Duke University School of Law, she served as a law clerk to Chief Justice James G. Exum, Jr. of the North Carolina Supreme Court. After completing her clerkship, Lorden served as an associate with Brown & Wood in New York City. In 1989, she moved in-house joining IBM Corporation where she proudly served for twenty-five years. Most recently, Lorden was Vice President, Associate General Counsel for IBM’s Sales & Distribution business unit. Her responsibilities included the provision of legal support across IBM’s worldwide sales organization for mergers & acquisitions, human resources and employment law and business offering development, as well as support for IBM’s State & Local government business in the United States.

Lorden along with her husband Dave Lorden ’84, are long-time volunteers and supporters of Harpur College and ��. Lorden has served as a sponsor for the Liberal Arts to Careers Externship (LACE) Program, a lecturer for the HARP 300 winter session course, Current Issues in Legal Practice and is a member of the �� Foundation Board of Directors. She is the 2012 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Social Sciences. Their daughter, Sarah is also a �� graduate and their son Robby is a current undergraduate at ��.

Lynda Markoe-Anticev ’88

Bed Bath & Beyond - Executive Vice President, Chief People & Culture Officer

Major: Political Science

Bio: Lynda Markoe-Anticev earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Harpur College in 1988.

Markoe-Anticev is the Executive Vice President and Chief People & Culture Officer for Bed Bath & Beyond. Prior to her current role, she worked at J. Crew Group, Inc. where she held roles as both Chief Administrative Officer and Global Head of Human Resources. During her tenure there she drove the company’s talent organization and strategies, including developing a global workforce with capabilities across, brands, channels and locations. She integrated the talent strategy and the business strategy while championing culture and associate engagement. Prior to that, Lynda spent 15 years as a human resources leader at Gap Inc.

Markoe-Anticev is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College. She has been an advocate and mentor for �� undergraduates through the Liberal Arts to Careers Externship (LACE) program, has served as a volunteer for Metro Connections Night and is a sponsor for employer visit week giving students firsthand experience and the opportunity to learn and understand the talent components of driving a business. Markoe-Anticev is a recipient of the 2016 Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award and was a commencement speaker.

Michael N. Needle ’81

AVEO Oncology – Chief Medical Officer

Major: Physics

Bio: Dr. Michael Needle earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harpur College in 1981 and a doctor of medicine degree from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. He performed his residency in pediatrics at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Dr. Needle has been the chief medical officer of AVEO Oncology since January 2015. He is responsible for the clinical development and regulatory interactions for all AVEO drug candidates. Prior to joining AVEO he held a similar position at Array Biopharma. Prior to a brief return to academic practice he was vice president of pediatric strategy at Celgene Corporation. He joined the company in 2004 as vice president of clinical R&D, oncology and then served as vice president of strategic medical business development. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Needle served as vice president of clinical affairs at ImClone Systems and was primarily responsible for the approval of Erbitux. Prior to joining ImClone, he served as director of oncology clinical research at G.D. Searle, a Monsanto company.

In 2010 Dr. Needle returned to academic practice after 12 years in the pharmaceutical industry. He was an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York and Columbia University Medical Center. He trained as a pediatric hematologist/oncologist and specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with brain tumors. From July 1993 through November 1997, he served as assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is author and coauthor of 50 peer-reviewed publications, review articles and book chapters.

Dr. Needle is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and �� University. He has served as a lecturer for the Harpur Physician Alumni Lecture Series and is a member of the �� Foundation Board of Directors. He frequently participates in student-alumni programs and alumni events on and off campus. Dr. Needle is the 2008 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Science and Mathematics.

Kenneth J. Roth ’78

Sharp Memorial Hospital – Physician

Major: Biological Sciences

Bio: Dr. Kenneth J. Roth earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Harpur College in 1978. After completing his medical degree at SUNY Buffalo in 1983, he completed his training in Internal Medicine at the University of California – San Diego in 1986.

In 1989, Dr. Roth helped create a new independent practitioners association called Sharp Community Medical Group (SCMG), which serves more than 350,000 patients. He has served on the Board of Directors since its inception, holding a number of council seats including the Executive Committee. He serves on the Sharp Healthcare Board of Directors. Dr. Roth was elected as President of Sharp Community Medical Group in July 2011.

Dr. Roth is founder and CEO of San Diego Internal Medical Associates (SDIMA), which is a primary care outpatient practice providing internal medicine, pediatrics and sports medicine to the San Diego community. As one of the first hospitalist in the area, he founded a group called San Diego Hospitalists Associates which provides quality, cost-effective hospital-based care to the patients at Sharp Memorial Hospital. In April of 2008, President George W. Bush awarded Dr. Roth and Sharps Executive Leadership the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Achievement Award for outstanding organizational improvement.

Dr. Roth is a long-time supporter of Harpur College and ��. He is the 2011 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Science and Mathematics.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson ’78

Actor/Writer/Director

Major: Theatre

Bio: Ruben Santiago-Hudson earned his bachelor’s degree in theatre from Harpur College in 1978 and an MFA from Wayne State University. He received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Wayne State University and Buffalo State College.

Santiago-Hudson most recently directed the World Premieres of Dominique Morriseau’s Skeleton Crew at The Atlantic Theater and Paradise Blue at The Williamstown Theater Festival as well as his own Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine at The Two River Theater Co. Other directing credits include Cabin In The Sky at Encores!, The Piano Lesson (OBIE, Lucille Lortel, Joseph A. Callaway, AUDELCO,), The Happiest Song Plays Last- 2nd Stage Theater, Things of Dry Hours at NY Theater Workshop, My Children My Africa, Seven Guitars and The First Breeze Of Summer all at The Signature Theater Company.

His screenplay adaptation of his autobiographical play Lackawanna Blues garnered numerous awards including—The Humanitas Prize, National Board of Reviews, NAACP Image Award and The Christopher Award as well as Emmy, Golden Globe and WGA nominations. As an actor, Mr. Santiago-Hudson is the recipient of a Tony Award, an OBIE Award, Clarence Derwent, AUDELCO and a Helen Hayes award among others.

He made his Broadway debut in Jelly’s Last Jam opposite Gregory Hines. Other Broadway credits include August Wilson’s Seven Guitars and Gem of The Ocean and Stickfly. Ruben has numerous off-broadway credits, among his favorite, are The Winter’s Tale, How I Learned What I Learned, Measure For Measure, East Texas Hot Links, Ceremonies In Dark Old Men and Lackawanna Blues. Ruben spent several seasons on the hit television show Castle as Captain Roy Montgomery other recent television appearances include Public Morals, Low Winter Sun, Billions, and The Family.

His film credits include; Selma, The Devil’s Advocate, American Gangster, Mr. Brooks, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Forgotten Genius, The Red Sneakers and more.

The Ruben Santiago-Hudson Fine Arts Learning Center opened in 2014 in his hometown of Lackawanna, NY which he is extremely proud of. Other awards and honors include 4 AUDELCO Directing Awards, Clarence Derwent Award, Joseph A. Calloway Directing Award, 2 OBIE Awards, Lucille Lortel Award, and Helen Hayes Award among many others.

Santiago-Hudson is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and �� University. He frequently returns to campus to speak with students, he served as a �� TEDx presenter in 2014 and served as the keynote speaker at the �� University Alumni Awards Dinner in 2015. Most recently he hosted the Theatre Alumni Conference, Act 2: What’s Your Next Move? on campus in April 2016. He is the recipient of the 2013 Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Fine Arts and Humanities and the recipient of 2005 Glenn G. Bartle Alumni Award.

Michael Timmeny ’73

Cisco – Senior Vice President, Global Government & Community Relations

Major: History

Bio: Michael Timmeny earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Harpur College in 1973.

Michael Timmeny is Cisco’s Senior Vice President for Global Government & Community Relations. Timmeny manages a global team charged with advancing issues that support Cisco’s robust corporate and technology policy agenda worldwide. This includes protecting global competitiveness, avoiding intrusive regulations, promoting broadband adoption, and building trusted relationships with policymakers throughout the world.

Prior to joining Cisco, Timmeny spent 21 years on Capitol Hill in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. He served as Chief of Staff to five members of Congress, including Senator Patty Murray of Washington, and Representatives Anna Eshoo (Calif.), Joseph P. Kennedy II (Mass.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.), and Ted Weiss (N.Y.). Timmeny also served as a Vice President of Policy for the American Electronics Association.

Timmeny has been with Cisco for the past 17 years, first as head of Cisco’s Washington, D.C. office, then as Vice President of U.S. Government Affairs, and now as the global lead for government and community relations, where he is expanding the team’s presence into additional country capitals in Cisco’s growth markets.

Timmeny got his start in politics volunteering for President John F. Kennedy’s successful 1960 campaign for President when he was a child. In his spare time, he enjoys cars, playing squash, and traveling.

Timmeny is a volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. Most recently he served as a guest lecturer and participated in a Harpur Edge program for students.

Paul R. Turovsky ’73, LHD ’12 – (co-chair)

True North Management Group, LLC – Principal & Founding Partner

Major: History

Bio: Paul Turovsky earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Harpur College in 1973 and a master’s degree and PhD in Latin American History from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1975, and 1980, respectively. As an undergraduate, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. As a graduate student, he was a recipient of both a four-year University of California Regents Teaching and Research Fellowship and a Doherty Foundation Fellowship administered by Princeton University for doctoral research in Latin America for a period of one year.

Turovsky is a founding principal of True North Management Group, a privately held real estate investment management firm founded in 2004, and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y. The firm currently manages over $750 million in assets for institutional investors and is investing its second high-yield investment fund which focuses on the acquisition of distressed real estate loans and properties. The fund totals $536 million in capital commitments from 25 institutional investors.

Turovsky was a managing director of Deutsche Bank Securities and fund manager for DB Real Estate’s Mezzanine Investment Funds. Under his direction, the group became a leader in the real estate mezzanine/high-yield debt field, originating almost $1.5 billion in more than 80 domestic real estate mezzanine/high-yield debt transactions and raising over $800 million in institutional capital from more than 25 investors. Prior to the Bankers Trust’s merger with Deutsche Bank, Turovsky was responsible (from 1991 to 1999) for the overall management of origination, trading and distribution of the firm’s mezzanine debt, CMBS and whole-loan products and his role as fund manager for the mezzanine funds was a natural outgrowth of these activities. He also played a key role in the management of DB Real Estate, the $38 billion real estate investment management division of Deutsche Bank, as a member of the division’s Management Committee and Equity Investment Committee. His role was instrumental in the growth of the business from its founding in 1984, with only six employees, to over 500 employees with revenues of over $600 million by his departure in 2003. He joined Bankers Trust’s Real Estate Investment Banking Group in 1984.

Turovsky’s professional affiliations include the Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) and the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association (CMSA). He has been a speaker and panelist at many industry functions, conferences and events. He served as a member of the executive committee of the board of directors and treasurer of the Washingtonville Housing Alliance in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Turovsky is a long-time volunteer and supporter of Harpur College and ��. He is the past chair of the Board of Directors of the �� Foundation and chaired ��’s successful Bold.Brilliant.�� — The Campaign for ��, which surpassed its original $95 million goal and its subsequent $100 million goal and raised more than $101.2 million. Turovsky has participated in numerous alumni events and has served as a panelist and guest speaker. He is the 1999 recipient of the Harpur College Distinguished Alumni Award for the Division of Social Sciences and is the recipient of the 2010 Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumni Award. He received an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters from SUNY in 2012.

James A. Wilcox ’74

University of California at Berkley – Haas School of Business – Professor

Major: Economics

Bio: Professor James A. Wilcox earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1974 and received his PhD in Economics from Northwestern University.

Professor Wilcox has been a member of the faculty at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkley since 1978. He has held several positions serving as an economist at the Federal Reserve Board, on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors and at the Comptroller of the Currency. Professor Wilcox also served as the James J. and Marianne B. Lowery Chair in Business from 2009-2013.

Professor Wilcox is nationally known for his expertise on credit unions and banking, housing and mortgage markets, monetary policy and interest rates. His research and interests are in banking, business conditions and conversions. He has served on and continues to serve as a member of many boards, including the Finance Scholars Group, Chair of the Economic Analysis and Policy Group at Haas, President of the International Business, Economics and Finance Association and has served as a member, treasurer, vice chair and chair of the Board of Directors for the Cal State 9 Credit Union.

Professor Wilcox has published numerous papers and served on the editorial boards for the Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance and the North American Journal of Economics and Finance. He was a research fellow at the Filene Research Institute from 2005-2011 and is a current fellow at Wharton Financial Institutions Center.

Professor Wilcox is a three-time recipient of the Earl F. Cheit Award for Excellence in Teaching (1987, 1995, 1997). He is a long-time supporter of Harpur College and ��.

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Making a difference

Council members

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