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.
| Mr. Daniel C. Tomson, Chair Managing Director Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. |
|
| Ms. Eileen G. Whelley, Vice Chair Retired Chief Human Resources Officer XL Group |
|
| Mr. Robert S. Azeke Managing Partner Farol Asset Management |
|
| Mr. Robert P. Balachandran, Esq President BellRow Title Agency |
|
| Mr. Eric L. Cochran Head of Corporate Development Sila Nanotechnologies |
|
| Ms. Hillary D. Hansen Partner, Financial Services Office Ernst & Young Global Limited |
|
 |
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 Director, Information Directorate, and Commander, Detachment 4 Air Force Research Laboratory |
| Mr. Robert L. Megna President Rockefeller Institute of Government |
|
| Ms. Diane M. Minas EHS Technology Leader General Electric's Global Research Center (GRC) |
|
 |
Ms. Heather Mulligan President and CEO The Business Council of New York State |
| Dr. Bahgat G. Sammakia Distinguished Professor, Vice President of Research Binghamton University |
|
| Mr. Edward M. Spiro Partner Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello P.C. |
|
| Dr. Satish K. Tripathi President University at Buffalo The State University of New York |
Advisory Members
| Ms. Beth Berlin Senior Vice Chancellor for Operations and Management and Chief Operating Officer The State University of New York |
| Dr. John B. King, Jr. Chancellor The State University of New York |
| 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 H. Black Retired Senior Partner and Vice Chairman Deloitte LLP |
 |
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:
In Memoriam
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