MICHAEL J. JOHNSTON ELECTED CHAIR
OF THE NEW SCHOOL’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
New York, October 1, 2009—The New School today elected Michael J. Johnston, 71, a retired executive vice president of the Capital Group Companies, as chair of its Board of Trustees.
"The New School is quickly evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and in the process becoming a leader in higher education,” said Johnston. “I look forward to working collaboratively with faculty, students, and the administration to create a dynamic vision for the university’s future."
Johnston joined the New School Board of Trustees in 2003, and since then has occupied various important leadership roles at the university. He has served as a member of the Executive Committee, Budget Planning Committee, and Development Committee of the Board of Trustees, as well as Chair of the Board of Governors of The New School for General Studies and a member of the Board of Governors of Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts. In recognition of his exceptional record of service to the university, the Board of Trustees recently voted him one of the recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Service Award.
“Mike Johnston has demonstrated his commitment and value to the university in his many years of service,” said New School President Bob Kerrey. “His extensive experience working with corporate and nonprofit institutions, especially educational organizations, offers an unparalleled advantage as the university tackles an ambitious mandate of academic excellence. His leadership will build upon the legacy of our board chairs over the past 90 years, most recently Julien Studley.”
Johnston succeeds Julien J. Studley, 82, a trustee of The New School for more than two decades. Studley first came to The New School in 1953 as a student participating in the university’s storied humanities classes. Finding a place where the values, heritage, and mission closely matched his own, he subsequently joined the faculty to teach a popular survey course on New York Real Estate.
During his tenure as board chair, and previously vice chair and chair of the Development Committee, Studley’s extensive knowledge of the institution allowed The New School to progress both academically and financially. The university exceeded its fundraising records, bringing in over $240 million in gifts and pledges. He also created a student activity fund, which made possible a university-wide orientation program, career services workshops, and other cross-divisional activities. Studley also was instrumental in the acquisition of the university’s first new academic building since 1977. For his many years of exceptional service to The New School community, Studley received the University’s Distinguished Service Award in 1997. He will now serve as special advisor to the president and continue as a vice chair of the Board. Kerrey adds, “Julien has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable asset to the university.”
“Over the past 22 years, I have given my time and support to The New School to help it grow into an internationally recognized university, while staying true to its values and traditions,” said Studley. “I look forward to working with Mike to continue these important efforts.”
Johnston, who was appointed to a three-year term as board chair, has served on the boards of numerous corporate and nonprofit institutions. Most notably, from 1993 to 2000 he was a board trustee and chair of the Claremont Graduate University and Claremont Consortium. Johnston also has served as a trustee of the Union Theological Seminary. Other affiliations include chair of the Harvard Business School Club of New York; trustee and vice president of the Schumann Center for Media and Democracy; and a member of the advisory board of the United Nations Foundation’s Investor Network on Climate Risk.
About The New School
Located in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive. The nearly 9,400 matriculated students and approximately 5,280 continuing education students who attend the university’s eight schools enjoy a disciplined education supported by small class sizes, superior resources, and renowned working faculty members who practice what they teach. The eight schools of the university are: The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. For more information, please visit www.newschool.edu.
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