Board of Directors


The RF Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring its corporate bylaws are consistent with all statutory and regulatory guidance and best practices in non-profit governance. The Audit & Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing the audit function, material compliance and legal issues, and the overall RF system of controls. The Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring good governance and practices within the board. Other committees include the Nominating Committee, the Finance Committee and the Investment Committee. Each committee is governed by the bylaws and a charter that outlines its specific responsibilities. The SUNY Chancellor serves as an advisory member on the RF Board of Directors.

RF Board Chair, Daniel Tomson Mr. Daniel C. Tomson, Chair
Managing Director
Citigroup Global Markets, Inc.
Eileen Whelley, Retired Chief Human Resources Officer XL Group  Ms. Eileen G. Whelley, Vice Chair
Retired Chief Human Resources Officer
XL Group
Robert S. Azeke, Managing Partner, Farol Asset Management Mr. Robert S. Azeke
Managing Partner
Farol Asset Management
Robert Balanchandran, President, Bell Row Title Agency Mr. Robert P. Balachandran, Esq
President
BellRow Title Agency
Eric L. Cochran, Retired Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP Mr. Eric L. Cochran
Head of Corporate Development
Sila Nanotechnologies
Hillary Hansen, Partner, Financial Services Office Ernst & Young Global Limited Ms. Hillary D. Hansen
Partner, Financial Services Office
Ernst & Young Global Limited
Dr. Benjamin Houlton Dr. Benjamin Z. Houlton
Ronald P. Lynch Dean, Office of the Dean
Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Professor, Department of Global Development
Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Colonel Timothy J. Lawrence Colonel Timothy J. Lawrence
Director, Information Directorate, and 
Commander, Detachment 4
Air Force Research Laboratory
Rockefeller Institute of Government President, Robert Megna Mr. Robert L. Megna
President
Rockefeller Institute of Government
Diane M. Minas Ms. Diane M. Minas
EHS Technology Leader
General Electric's Global Research Center (GRC)
Heather Briccetti Mulligan, President and CEO, The Business Council of New York State Ms. Heather Mulligan
President and CEO
The Business Council of New York State
Dr. Bahgat Sammakia Dr. Bahgat G. Sammakia
Distinguished Professor, Vice President of Research
Binghamton University
Edward Spiro Mr. Edward M. Spiro
Partner
Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C.
Sathish Tripathi photo  Dr. Satish K. Tripathi
President
University at Buffalo
The State University of New York  

Advisory Members

Beth Berlin headshot Ms. Beth Berlin
Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations and Management
and Chief Operating Officer
The State University of New York
John B King, Jr., Chancellor, The State University of New York Dr. John B. King, Jr.
Chancellor
The State University of New York
Dr. Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvick Dr. Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik
Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development
and Provost-in-Charge
The State University of New York

Board Chair Emeritus

Mr. Jeffrey Black Mr. Jeffrey H. Black
Retired Senior Partner and Vice Chairman
Deloitte LLP
Mr. John Fitzgibbons Mr. John B. Fitzgibbons
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Basin Holdings

A committee structure facilitates the oversight work of the RF board. The committees and their purposes include:

Learn more about the RF

In Memoriam

Dr. Alan Gintzler

Dr. Alan Gintzler was a Board member of the Research Foundation from 2012 until his passing in 2021. He served as the Chair of the Nominating Committee from 2019-2021 and served on the Audit & Finance and Executive Committees for many years.  Dr. Gintzler will always be remembered for his approachable manner, his deep knowledge and love of research, teaching and technology.  
We will miss his keen sense of humor and undeniable wit.  Dr. Gintzler will be greatly missed by the Downstate Medical Center community, his friends at the Research Foundation and of course, his loving family.

Downstate Message on Passing of Dr. Gintzler

 

Board of Directors Staff

 

Secretary - Christopher L. Ashley
(518) 434-7045 chris.ashley@rfsuny.org

Assistant Secretary - Rich Agnello
(518) 434-7122 rich.agnello@rfsuny.org

Board of Directors Coordinator - Nancy A. Clarke
(518) 434-7227 nancy.clarke@rfsuny.org