The Board of Trustees is responsible for the policy direction of Russell Sage College and its educational and administrative organization, as required by law. The institutional authority of the Board is paramount in all matters affecting Russell Sage College. Specifically the Board provides oversight of all fiduciary and policy matters, and is responsible for hiring and evaluating the President.

Board of Trustees 2024-2025

  • Matthew Shaftel
    President
    Russell Sage College
    Troy, NY
  • John Bennett, MD
    President and CEO
    CDPHP
    Albany, NY
  • Therese Bentley ‘82
    Managing Partner
    Moose Meadows Properties, LLC
    Elverson, PA
  • Judith Campisi ’80 (Vice Chair)
    Senior Director of Corporate Relations/
    Workplace Giving Consultant (Retired)
    American Heart Association
    Wilton, Connecticut
  • Christopher C. Dahl
    President Emeritus
    State University of New York at Geneseo
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Caroline Leavitt DeCota ‘84 (Chair)
    Vice President (Retired)
    Managed Markets at Smith & Nephew Biotherapeutic
    North Attleboro, MA
  • Kathryn Diamond ‘60
    Assistant to the Chairman of the Board (Retired)
    Natus Medical
    San Francisco, CA
  • Julia Greenstein-Bleicher ‘78
    Founder
    Life Science Advisors
    Newton, MA
  • Catherine Hill
    Founder and Acting Partner
    CooperHill
    Loudonville, NY
  • Belinda Hilton ’97
    Director of Finance
    The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
    Guilderland, NY
  • Alexandra Jupin ’67, ’65
    President
    The Arts Group
    Sarasota, FL
  • James Kellerhouse ’98, ‘96
    Vice President for Institutional Advancement
    Hartwick College
    Albany, NY
  • Joan Martin ’98
    Vice President, Integrated Delivery System and System Payer Contracting
    Albany Med Health System
  • Jeff Mirel
    Executive Vice President
    The Rosenblum Companies
    Albany, NY
  • Nicole Newman, ’91
    Assistant Principal
    North Albany Middle School, City School District of Albany
    Rensselaer, NY
  • Chester J. Opalka
    Retired
    Albany Molecular Research, Inc.
    Averill Park, NY
  • Tammy Parsons ’97, ’01
    Director of Academic Advising
    Excelsior University
  • Ebony Pompey-Conway ’02, ’99
    Strategic Programs Manager
    Key Technology Operation Services
    Troy, NY
  • Stacey Rowland
    General Counsel
    Genting Americas Inc.
    Cohoes, NY
  • Ronnye Shamam, ’64
    President/Owner
    Shamron Mills, Ltd.
    Troy, NY
  • Albert Szesnat, ’03, ’05
    Chief Financial Officer
    Center for Internet Security
    Latham, NY
  • Patricia Timpano Sparrell ‘78
    Global Manager Process & Optimization Engineering (Retired)
    Exxon Mobil Corporation
    Oakton, VA
  • Robin Livingston Taubin ‘74
    Attorney (Retired)
    New York, NY
  • Nancy Valley
    Retired
    KPMG LLP
    Wynantskill, NY
  • Christine Werner Ward ‘71 (Secretary)
    State Archivist & CEO (Retired)
    New York Archives Partnership Trust
    New York State
    Troy, NY
  • Benita Zahn
    Certified Health & Wellness Coach
    Capital Cardiology
    Producer & Host of Health Beat
    WNYT
    Clifton Park, NY

In This Section