Chairman’s Message
As the new chair of the university’s board of trustees, I am extremely pleased to write a message to the New School community. I look forward to working with every member of our dedicated community to provide an outstanding education for our students. My role is to support the university in the challenges that lie ahead and to help it succeed in all its endeavors.
As you may be aware, we are in the process of preparing for a major transition. President Kerrey, whose contract expires in June 2011, has expressed to the board that he will not consider an extension. The board of trustees has formed a search committee including representatives of every part of the university community to help us recruit and select a new president. The committee is charged with understanding the New School community’s expectations for its next president, tailoring the job description, and guiding the recruitment and selection process.
Beginning with his appointment as president in 2001, Bob Kerrey has overseen The New School’s transformation into a cohesive university, doubling the number of full-time faculty, extending tenure across academic programs, dramatically increasing the number of students enrolled in degree-granting programs, and improving campus governance. He has steadily improved the university’s finances by achieving balanced budgets and a significant growth in our endowment, even during challenging economic times. We are pleased that President Kerrey will continue to contribute to the university while a successor is selected to guide its future growth and evolution.
I am honored to welcome the newest members of the New School volunteer community. Linda E. Rappaport and Randall S. (Randy) Yanker joined the university as members of the board of trustees. I am also delighted to welcome Craig J. Calhoun, Robert J. DiQuollo, Fred Dust, Roxanne Griffith, Jayme Koszyn, Deborah Aal Stoff, and Lawrence Taylor, seven new members of the individual schools’ boards of governors; and Ken Grossinger and Micheline Klagsbrun, two new members of the Vera List Center Advisory Committee. The university is extremely fortunate to have these individuals offering their leadership and resources to help us accomplish our goals.
The university is saddened by the passing of several very special members of our volunteer community and exceptional individuals. Adrian DeWind, who died on August 7, 2009, provided sensitive and effective leadership as a life trustee. Harcourt R. Dodds, a trustee from 1991 to 2003, passed away July 12, 2009; he brought a passionate commitment to education, equal opportunity, and social justice to his work on behalf of the university. John H. Hobbs, a member of the board of governors of The New School for Social Research, passed away on January 3, 2010; he will be remembered for his extraordinary dedication to our university, which will benefit students for years to come. James C. Slaughter, who passed away on December 15, 2009, offered decades of devoted service to Mannes College The New School for Music, along with his wife, Lee, a Mannes alumna who serves on the Mannes’ board of governors and board of trustees.
The New School is served by extraordinary people. Every year, the university presents the Distinguished Service Award to individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to our mission and ideals. This year, the board of trustees honored five individuals whose leadership and commitment are unsurpassed: Steven H. Bloom, Cheryl Cohen Effron, Joan L. Jacobson, Michael J. Johnston, and William A. Schwartz.
The Annual Report showcases the outstanding work of our devoted volunteers, talented faculty, students, staff, and alumni. It demonstrates the results of their involvement with the university, both within New York City and around the world. Their efforts are reflected in the increased fundraising success at the university, the development of new academic programs and strengthening of existing ones across the divisions, and the vast improvement and expansion of our facilities. As we continue building on and redefining the New School legacy, we must remember our volunteers’ participation to the university’s continued evolution and success. Their leadership exemplifies a commitment to excellence. We are grateful for the tremendous support they have offered our university.
Michael J. Johnston
Chairman
The New School Board of Trustees