In Review

Two alumni with extensive experience as corporate leaders were elected to the University’s Board of Trustees this spring, while five longtime members were elected as life trustees in recognition of their service, leadership, and philanthropic support.

New Trustees

Naveen Nataraj ’97 is a senior managing director of the corporate advisory business at Evercore, a leading global independent investment advisory firm. The founder of the technology practice at Evercore, he has advised technology and telecommunications clients in transactions exceeding $500 billion in value.

Nataraj and his wife, Courtney, established the Courtney and Naveen Nataraj Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University in 2014. Nataraj has actively participated in University reunion committees, the New York New Leaders Regional Cabinet, and the Trustees’ Council of the College.

Kathy Waller ’80, ’83S (MBA) recently retired as executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Coca-Cola Company. She was responsible for the company’s global commerce organization and with representing the company to investors, lenders, and rating agencies.

Waller previously served on the board from 2006 to 2016, when she was named a life trustee. Actively involved with the Simon Business School and the College, she chaired the Diversity Initiative Campaign Committee for The Meliora Challenge, as well as the Alumni National Council, among many other roles. She has supported undergraduate scholarships, including the Byrd and Eva Waller Scholarship that she established at the College in honor of her parents.

Life Trustees

Roger Friedlander ’56 joined the board in 1997 and has served as a member, chair, or vice chair of several board committees. He has served in many leadership roles, including vice president of the Eastman Institute for Oral Health Foundation Board, a member of the Medical Center Board, and chair of the School of Nursing National Council and of The Meliora Challenge Campaign Cabinet for Nursing.

He and his wife, Carolyn ’68N (PNP), have supported the Dr. Elizabeth R. McAnarney Professorship in Pediatrics Funded by Roger and Carolyn Friedlander and other areas of Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Medical Center, the School of Nursing, the Eastman School of Music, Rush Rhees Library, and other initiatives.

Ed Hajim ’58, a highly successful investment manager, had been a board member since 1988 and served as chair from 2008 to 2016. He is credited with galvanizing support for The Meliora Challenge, the University’s historic campaign that exceeded its goal by raising $1.37 billion.

In addition to serving as the Campaign Cabinet chair for The Meliora Challenge, he served as a member of leadership boards across the University. The Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences is named in recognition of his leadership support for the school, one of the largest gift commitments in the University’s history.

Michael Rosen ’82, ’83S (MBA), cofounder, cochairman, and CEO of Context Capital Management, joined the board in 2005. In addition to serving on board committees, he was the San Diego Regional Cabinet founding chair, a Meliora Challenge Campaign Cabinet chair, and chair for his 20th reunion.

He and his wife, Marilyn, have provided support to the Simon Business School through the Marilyn and Michael Rosen Endowed Professorship as well as through scholarship and other support.

Joel Seligman led the University from 2005 to 2018 as president and CEO, G. Robert Witmer, Jr. University Professor, and professor of business and political science. Under his leadership, the University launched The Meliora Challenge, which, when it concluded in 2016, had nearly doubled the endowment, created the George Eastman Circle, and supported more than two dozen new facilities and infrastructure projects totaling nearly $1 billion. He championed community engagement and initiatives in data science, neuroscience, humanities and the performing arts, and health care, including the growth of a clinical enterprise that now includes a 15-county network and is anchored by six hospitals.

Nathaniel (Nat) Wisch ’55, a specialist in hematology and medical oncology, had been a board member since 2002. He has supported key areas of the University, including service on the Metro New York Network Leadership Cabinet, cochair of the New York New Leaders Regional Cabinet, and as a national campaign and reunion volunteer and leader for the College.

Wisch and his wife, Helen, established the Nathaniel and Helen Wisch Professorship in Biology as well as two endowed scholarships, one in Arts, Sciences & Engineering and the other at the Eastman School of Music.