Convocation & New Trustees

Barnard celebrates the new academic year

One of the College’s favorite traditions, Convocation took place this year again in the majestic Riverside Church. Ninety-six alumnae, dressed in academic regalia and carrying class flags, marched in to the cheers of new and returning students, faculty, and staff. Keynote speaker Maria Hinojosa ’84, an award-winning journalist and CEO of Futuro Media Group, told the students, “As a woman at Barnard, you are coming into your own power....We must use this privilege, and we need you to own your power and voices, now more than ever.”

Barnard Welcomes New Trustees

Barnard College has announced the appointment of nine new members to its Board of Trustees. This cohort is the largest group of new trustees since the College’s founding in 1889 and comes from a broad range of fields including education, entertainment, science, technology, and healthcare. The new class includes philanthropist and education advocate Laura Blankfein ’75; technologist and entrepreneur Gregor Freund P’20; venture capitalist Bill Helman P’14; Warner Bros. executive Craig Hunegs P’20; Athena Center founding member Philippa Portnoy ’86; physician and healthcare advocate Dara Richardson-Heron ’85; philanthropist and technologist Barrie Roman P’20;  Chancellor Emeritus of the state board of regents and current SUNY Vice Chair Merryl H. Tisch ’77; and physician Ann Weinbaum Sacher ’85.

The Trustees of Barnard College are responsible for the overall governance of the College, including oversight of strategic direction and large-scale programmatic initiatives, approval of the budget and stewardship of the endowment.

“My fellow Trustees and I are delighted to welcome this dynamic new class of members to the Board,” said Cheryl Milstein ’82, P’14, who was elected chair of the Board earlier this year. “Our incoming trustees, with the depth and diversity of their experiences, will bring valuable new ideas and perspectives to the table as we engage in the ongoing work of guiding Barnard’s future.”

— Photos by Samuel Stuart Hollenshead and Asiya Khaki ’09

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