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In Review

LEADERSHIPSeven Elected as Trustees Leaders in music, finance, real estate, and university and corporate management join Rochester’s Board of Trustees. By Sara Miller

The Board of Trustees has elected seven new members.

Joan Sapiro Beal ’84E is a studio singer and vocal contractor for film, media, and television in Los Angeles. She is performing as soprano soloist with House of Cards in Concert with her spouse—composer and conductor Jeff Beal ’85E. She has sung on more than 100 film scores for composers, including John Williams, James Newton Howard, and James Horner, and has done numerous national commercials and television series. In 2015, the couple helped establish the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media at the Eastman School of Music to help prepare students for careers creating music for film and other media.

Jay Benet ’76S (MBA) is vice chairman and chief financial officer for the Travelers Companies, a component company of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. He previously served as worldwide head of financial planning, analysis, and reporting at Citigroup, as well as chief financial officer for Citigroup’s global consumer business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He chairs the Simon Business School Advisory Council and is a recipient of Simon’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. He and his spouse, Jeanne, established the Jay S. and Jeanne P. Benet Professorship of Finance at the Simon Business School.

Stephen Biggar ’92 is a partner at Baker Brothers Investments in New York City, a fund-management company focused on long-term investments in life sciences companies. He also chairs the board of ACADIA Pharmaceuticals and is a former director of Synageva BioPharma and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals. A varsity soccer player as a Rochester undergraduate, he is a member of the Athletic Campaign Committee. He and his spouse, Liz Asaro Biggar ’92—also a soccer player—are members of the Friends of Rochester Athletics.

H. Christopher Boehning ’87, ’88 (MS) is a partner in the litigation department at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. His practice includes complex commercial and civil litigation matters, criminal and regulatory inquiries, internal investigations, and international arbitrations. He played varsity soccer for four years at Rochester. He and his spouse, Julie Boehning, have made a leadership gift to establish the Boehning Varsity House, a new facility at the Brian F. Prince Athletic Complex. A recipient of the John N. Wilder Award and Garnish Citation, he chairs the Arts, Sciences & Engineering National Council and the Athletic Campaign Committee, and he is a member of the Friends of Rochester Athletics.

Emerson Fullwood is a retired corporate vice president of Xerox Corporation. He joined Xerox in 1972 and spent 36 years in executive and management leadership positions, including president of Xerox worldwide channels group and of the worldwide customer services group, and executive chief staff officer of the developing markets group. Most recently, he was executive chief of staff and marketing officer for Xerox North America. He is a member of many boards, including the Medical Center. He holds the Minett Professorship at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he served for several years as executive-in-residence.

John Sexton ’05 (Honorary) is president emeritus, Benjamin Butler Professor of Law, and law school dean emeritus of New York University. He joined NYU’s law faculty in 1981, serving as president from 2002 to 2016. During his presidency—among other significant accomplishments—NYU created an integrated global university with full research campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and study away campuses in 12 cities on six continents. NYU also greatly expanded its faculty; restored engineering; doubled applications for admission; and achieved record fundraising. A fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Sexton also serves on numerous boards and has received 18 honorary degrees.

Amy Leenhouts Tait ’85S (MBA) is executive chairman and chief investment officer at Broadstone Real Estate, a full-service real estate company that sponsors private real estate investment offerings and manages commercial and residential properties across 37 states. Tait cofounded Broadstone in 2006 with her spouse, Robert Tait, and her father, the late Norman Leenhouts ’56, a former University trustee. She has served as Broadstone’s board chair since 2012 and was chief executive officer until 2017. Tait serves on the board of governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, the Simon School National Council, the Simon Advisory Council, and is a recipient of Simon’s Distinguished Alumni Award. She has also served on the boards of numerous other community organizations.