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September 4, 2007

RWU names 13 new trustees in controversy's wake

BRISTOL -- Roger Williams University today announced the election of 13 new trustees, who the university says are reflective of its core values and "the increasingly diverse and global nature of the world for which it prepares its students."

Their selection comes after a harsh spotlight was cast on the school and its board by the uttering of a racial epithet during a May board meeting by its former longtime chairman, Ralph R. Papitto.

Papitto used the "n" word during a discussion about the makeup of the new board, then worked behind the scenes to remove three board members who called for him to step down.

After a board meeting in July, he did step down, and in the wake, traces of his name -- including on the law school he helped fund -- have been removed from campus.

In a press release today, the school emphasizes that its new board members are significantly diverse, reflecting both females and ethnic groups, as well as community leaders.

Roger Williams President Roy J. Nirschel said, “Along with a larger and much more diverse board, I am pleased that the trustees have embraced term limits, a conflict of interest policy and an even stronger committee structure.”

Newly elected members of the board, in alphabetical order, are:
• Timothy E. Baxter: Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Samsung
Electronics America
• Rodney A. Butler: Tribal Council Treasurer, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
• Luis F. Gomez: President, Promarisco, S.A.
• Denise M. Jenkins: Philanthropy Officer, Rhode Island Foundation
• Karen Johnson: General Partner, Dunlop Investments, Hedge Fund
• Jerrold L. Lavine: President, The Freeman Group
• Suzanne Magaziner: Civic Leader and Philanthropist
• Sami Nacaroglu: President, Bayraktar Holding
• Helen Ostrowski: CEO, Porter Novelli International
• Marc Spiegel: President & CEO, Academic Centers Abroad, LLC
• Walter R. Stone, Esq.: Senior Partner, Adler, Pollock & Sheehan
• Hala Taweel: President, University of the Middle East Project
• Arlene Violet, Esq.: Former Rhode Island Attorney General

Completing the board are: Richard L. Bready, chairman and CEO of Nortek, who was elected chairman to replace Papitto last May, and trustees David J. Calabro, Gary R. Chapman, Bradley P. Dorman, Mario J. Gabelli, J. Lynn Singleton and Robert F. Stoico, who were reappointed at that time.

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 5:46 PM | Permalink

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Richard Callahan | September 4, 2007 6:42 PM link

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