MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
Sep
tember 16, 2024
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the D istrict of Columbia
John A. Wilson
Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Ch
airman M endelson:
In accordance
with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01),
and pursuant to section 201 of the District of Columbia Public
Postsecondary Education
Reorganization Act, approved October 26, 1974 (88 Stat. 1424; D.C. Official
Code § 38-1202.01), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Dr. Esther Barazzone
Albemarle Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(Ward 3 )
for reappointment as member
of the Board of Trustees of the University of the D istrict of Columbia,
for a term to end May 15, 2029.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor 1
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~~
at the request of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the reappointment
of Esther Barazzone to the Board of Trustees of the University of
the District of Columbia.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
resolution may be cited as the "Board
of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia
Esther Barazzone Confirmation Resolution
of 2024".
Sec. 2. The Council
of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
Dr. Esther Barazzone
Albemarle Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
(Ward 3)
as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia, established
by section
201 of the District of Columbia Public Postsecondary Education Reorganization Act,
approved October 26, 1974 (88 Stat. 1424; D.C. Official
Code§ 38-1202.01), for a term to end
May
15, 2029.
Sec.
3. The Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the
nominee, the Board
of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia, and the Office of
the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. ESTHERL.BARAZZONE,PHD
Experiencedleaderinhighereducation,currentlyworkingasindependentconsultantandBoards
memberfocusedonissuesofgovernance,leadership,andmanagement.Duringa24year
presidencyachievedsuccessfulturn-aroundofChathamUniversityandgainedbroadexperience
inallaspectsofhighereducation.ContinuedeepcommitmentsthroughBoardmembershipsto
innovation,accessanddiversity,sustainability,andglobalperspectives.
CURRENTSERVICE
UniversityoftheDistrictofColumbia(Trustee,2017-2024;SecretaryoftheBoardto2024;Chairof
OutcomesCommittee2022-2024+)
‘AmericanUniversityofRome(BoardMemberandChairoftheDevelopmentCommittee,Memberofthe
ExecutiveCommittee2017-present;ChairofStrategicPlanning,2023+)
ACTIVEEMERITAORADVISORYSTATUSENGAGEMENT
ChathamUniversity-EmeritaPresidentandEmeritaProfessorofHistory
ClaudeWorthingtonBenedumFoundationBoard-EmeritaBoardMember
PLEN(PublicLeadershipEducationNetwork-(forcollegiatewomen)-AdvisoryBoardMember
EDUCATION
=ColumbiaUniversity,NewYork,NewYork,Ph.D.,1982,M.A.1969,EuropeanIntellectualHistory
(FellowoftheFaculty,NDEAIVFellow1968-1972)
=UniversityofMadrid,Spain,StudiesinSpanishHistory,1967-1968(Fulbrightstudent)
=NewCollege,Sarasota,Florida,B.A.,1967,PhilosophyandHistory,(CharterScholar)
ADDITIONALSTUDIES
=HarvardUniversity,InstituteforEducationalManagement(IEM),1991 =WhartonSchool,UniversityofPennsylvania,CertificateinBusinessAdministration,1981
CAREER
President,ChathamUniversity1992-2016
VicePresidentofAcademicAffairs,PhiladelphiaUniversity(formerlyPhiladelphiaCollegeofTextilesand
Science)1987-1992
AssociateProvostandDirectorofCorporateandFoundationFundraising,SwarthmoreCollege1983-87
AssociateDirectorofCorporateandFoundationRelations,UniversityofPennsylvania1982-1983
FacultyMember,ModernEuropeanIntellectualHistory,HamiltonandKirklandColleges,1974-1981
DirectorofStudyAbroadGroupstoEnglandandMexico,ExperimentinInternationalLiving,Englandand
Mexico,1973-4
MAJORACCOMPLISHMENTS
Institutionalmanagementandleadership:
-Chatham'92-'16wasregardedasamodelof“turnaroundleadership”duetosignificantrenewaland
expansion.Chathamquadrupleditsenrollment(600-2300);almosttripleditsendowment($85million
in'16);becameauniversitybystartinggraduateprogramslinkedwithundergraduatemajors;ended
‘operationaldeficitsandincreasedbudgetsfrom$11Mto$50+M);grewfrom32acresto450acreswith
threecampussites.
-Alwaysfocusedonqualityaswellasfinances,Chathamnamedan“institutionofDistinction”byAACRU
(AmericanAssociationofCollegesandUniversities”.Accreditorssaidin‘07:“Chathamhasmovedwith
confidenceanddaring,choosingthewell-consideredrisksofboldactionoverthediminishingreturnsof
playingitsafe";“Aplaceofstrongintellectualvaluesjoinedwithanimpulseforinnovatior
Fundraising,publicationsandpublicrelationsearnedthreenationalCASEgoldmedals;morethan$150
milionraisedby‘16
-Infallof'16institutionsuccessfullybecamecoeducationalattheundergraduatelevelanddoubledthe
nextfirstyearclasswith33%menenrolling’.
AGB(AssociationofGoverningBoards)-JohnNasonAwardtoBoardandPresidentfor“Exemplary
institutionalgovernanceandcourage,especiallyinchallengingtimes,”2016
SustainabilityandtheEnvironment:
~ThealmamaterofRachelCarson,ChathambecameanationalandinternationalleaderinSustainability
after‘92,becomingoneofthefirstsignatoriesofthePresidents’ClimateCommitment,followedbythe
2
3
creation of the Falk School of Sustainability, gifting of the land (’08) and building of the new Eden Hall 388-
acre campus, dubbed a “Living Lab” by COTE in ’17. The world’s first carbon neutral campus, Eden Hall
cleans its own waste water, produces its own energy (solar and geothermal), and offers sustainable
agriculture, aquaculture and food studies. ISCN (International Sustainable Campus Network) bestowed its
Sustainable Campus Excellence Award in Singapore, the only North American institution to be so honored
(’13). In the new, Eden Hall Campus, a $50 Million LEED Platinum project (’18), was honored by the AIA
(American Institute of Architects) Gold Medal for environmental excellence. In 2019, the Sierra Club named
Chatham one of the “Top 20 Coolest Schools.”
International:
-Institute for International Education (IIE)-first Andrew Heiskell Award for innovative and model
internationalization. The Global Focus Program was an across the campus/curriculum/community focus on
a country or region of the world changing annually. The award was for the “Communities of Islam”, a
year-long program to learn about Islam, after 9/11.
Women’s leadership:
-Created the Institute for Women and Politics, expanded the Elsie Hillman Chair in Women and Politics;
Created the Center for Women and Entrepreneurship (Named the best Women’s Business Center in the US
in 2017; Created the Women’s Institute (2014/5) to continue strong focus on women’s leadership as
institution became coeducational.
Selected Press coverage of Chatham’s accomplishments :
“Embracing Disruption,” Bill Campbell, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
Currents, May/June 2016
“Awarding Exceptional Board Service,” Association of Governing Boards (AGB)
Trusteeship, March/April
2016
The First 120 Days, What a New College President Must Do to Succeed,
Panas, Jerold. January 2009.
References first year as President
“Remaining
the Province of Women,” The Chronicle of Higher Education, Vol. 49, Issue 47, August, 2003
“Back from the Brink: Combining tradition and innovations in a que
st for revitalization,” Presidential
Essays: Success Stories, USA Group Foundation New Agenda Series, Vol. 2, #2, March 2000, pp. 21-30
The Small C ollege Guide to Financial Health: Beating the Odds. Michael Townsley, NACUBO, 2002, pp.
29-32
“Five Boards that Lit a Spark,” AGB,
Trusteeship, January/February 2001, pp. 29- 32.
SELECTEDOTHERPROFESSIONALACTIVITIES/ROLES
AssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityinHigherEducation(ASHE),SteeringCommittee,
2016
SecondNature,ClimateLeadershipNetwork,SteeringCommittee,2016
MiddleStatesAssociationofSchoolsandColleges,reviewer;AccreditationTeamChair,2014and1999
Presidents’ClimateCommitment,SteeringCommittee,2007topresent
ProjectPericles,ExecutiveCommittee,2005topresent
CouncilforInternationalExchangeofScholars(CIES),(partofIIE,theInstituteforInternational
Education),BoardMember2003to2010(NationalBoard)
PittsburghCouncilonHigherEducation(PCHE),Chair,1998-2000;member,2001topresent
CouncilofIndependentColleges(CIC),BoardMember,1995to2000,and2002-2005(NationalBoard)
NationalCollegiateAthleticAssociation(NCAA),Nat'lDiv.IIT,PanelofPresidents,2002(NationalBoard)
NewCollegeoftheUniversityofSouthFlorida,Sarasota,Florida,FoundationBoardMember,1994to
2005
AssociationofIndependentCollegesandUniversitiesinPennsylvania(AICUP),1994topresent;State
Chair,2001
‘AmericanCouncilonEducation(ACE),2010to2013,InternationalEducationLeadershipNetwork,2000
Women'sCollegeCoalition,BoardandExecutiveCommittee,1994-1998(NationalBoard)
PublicLeadershipEducationNetwork(PLEN),1994topresent;BoardChair,1995-1997(NationalBoard)
REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORSHIPSANDCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
*UniversityofPittsburghMedicalCenter:BoardofTrustees,1998to2015,duringwhichtimeIserved
variouslyontheExecutivecommittee(16years,theCommitteeonCommunityHealth(cochair),andthe
ExecutiveCompensationCommittee(9years)
DollarBank,BoardofDirectors,1996to2021whereIservedatvarioustimesontheExecutive,Audit,and
asChairofCommunityAffairsCommittee.
AlleghenyConferenceonCommunityDevelopmentfrom2004-9whereIworkedwiththeTaskForce
onYoungPeople,HigherEducationGoalsCommittee)
OTHERSELECTEDCOMMUNITY LEADERSHIPACTIVITIES
ALCOSAN,InstituteofPolitics,TaskForcetoreviewandrecommendongovernanceofpublicwater
facilitiesinmulticountyregionofPittsburgh,CommitteeCo-Chair
InternationalWomen’sForum,FoundingPittsburghChapterMember
‘TheCarnegie,MuseumofNaturalHistory,BoardMember,ChairoftheNominatingCommittee,Search
‘CommitteeforExec.Dir.,ChairofScientificPlanning‘TeamoftheStrategicPlanningCommittee
Mayor'sTaskForceonPittsburghPublicEducation
WorldAffairsCouncil,BoardofTrustees
HistoricalSocietyofWesternPennsylvania,BoardofTrustees;PresidentialSearchCommittee
PittsburghHistory&LandmarksFoundation,BoardofTrustees
PittsburghSymphony,AdvisoryBoard,1994to2004
SELECTEDPRESENTATIONS
“ForgingtheFuture:EmergingApproachesforIndependentHigherEducation”,KeynotePanel,CIC
PresidentsInstitute,MiamiBeach,Florida,January5,2016,presentationbygroupofpresidentsviewed
asleadingexemplarytransformativeinstitutionalchange
“UsingTrusteesMoreEffectivelyinFundraising’,Panelist,CICPresidentsInstitute,SanDiego,California,
January7,2015
“RenewableEnergyandEdenHallCampus”,AlternativeEnergyPanelist,EnergyandWater2013,
AmericanMiddleEastInstituteRenewableEnergy,Pittsburgh,PA,October29,2013
“EngagingUniversitiesinCo-CreationforUrbanSustainability”,InternationalSustainableCampus
NetworkConference,NationalUniversityofSingapore,Singapore,June18-20,2013
VisionSharedCertifiedSuccess:CompetinginToday'sEconomyWorkforceSummit,KeynoteAddress,
Wheeling,WestVirginia,September29,2011
50thFoundingAnniversaryKeynote,NewCollege,February11,2011
2010RachelCarsonLegacyAwardandSymposiumonBiodiversitywithE.0.Wilson,May27,2010
“TheChangingLandscapeofHigherEducationintheUnitedStates”,KeynoteSpeaker,28thConference
ofFulbrightExecutiveDirectorsandStateDepartmentRepresentativesfromEurope;Berlin,Germany,
May11,2010 “InternationalizingYourCampus:UsingtheFulbrightScholarProgramtoLeadtheWay”,CIC
PresidentsInstitute,MarcoIsland,Fla.
ASecondPresidencyattheSameInstitution”,CICPresidentsInstitute,Tucson,AZ,January6,2007
“AgainstAllOdds:RenewingPittsburghThroughEducation”,Keynote,19thAnnualSt.BarnabasCEO
LeadershipConference,Pittsburgh,PA,September12,2005
“StatusofWomeninSouthwesternPennsylvania”,Keynote,NationalCouncilofJewishWomen,
PittsburghPA,September7,2005
“LeadershipChallenges:TurningAroundInstitutionsbyStrengtheningAcademicQuality”,Keynote,CIC,
Savannah,GA,November4,2003
FatimaJinnahWomen’sUniversityCommencementAddresstofirstgraduatingclass,Rawalpindi,
Pakistan,September2001
‘SeoulWomen’sUniversityCommencementAddress,SeoulKorea,2000
CouncilforAdvancementandSupportofEducation(CASE)Presidents’PanelonWomenand
Philanthropy,April13,2000
SELECTEDPUBLICATIONSANDINTERVIEWS
=Op-edpiecesinthe“SarasotaHeraldTribune”onthecontroversiesrelatedtoNewCollegeinSarasota,
Florida,(Feb2,2023;June15,2023;August9,2023)
OnLeadershipInterview,Transformativechangeinhighereducation,“TheChronicleofHigher
Education”,September21,2015http://chronicle.com/article/A-Women-s-College-Goes-Coed/233353/
3IntegratingSustainabilitythroughoutanInstitution:EdenHallCampusandtheSchoolofSustainability
andtheEnvironment,Hassenzahl,D.M.,Mehling,M.andBarazzone,E.(2013).InLeal,W.(Ed).
SustainableDevelopmentatUniversities:NewHorizons.PeterLangScientificPublishers
PittsburghToday&Tomorrow’,PittsburghQuarterly,Spring2011,p45
OurRegion’sBusiness,KDKATVInterviewwithBillFlanagan,January27,2011
“AtouchofEden:ChathamUniversityisturningdonatedfarmintomodelofsustainability”,Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette,Saturday,May30,2009
PopStar:EstherBarazzone.PopCityMedia,Wednesday,October21,2009
“RoomtoGrow~ChathamUniversityhasexperiencedleaderstoplanthedevelopmentofthenew388-
acreEdenHallCampus’,PittsburghProfessionalMagazine,November2008,pp.26-35
“Collegepresidents’tenuregrows:Reportsaysleadersofnation’scollegesholdingjobslongerthanany
timesincethemid'80s",BillSchackner,PittsburghPost-Gazette.Monday,February12,2007 “ReportoftheTaskForceonYoungPeople”,AlleghenyConferenceonCommunityDevelopment,Nov.,
2002,www.alleghenyconference.org/public/cfm/library/Reports/PrelimReport_YoungPeople.pdf
“Let'smakesomenoiseaboutRachelCarson’,PittsburghPost-Gazette,March242002,pE-4
“BackFromTheBrink:Combiningtraditionandinnovationsinaquestforrevitalization”,Presidential
Essavs:SuccessStories,USAGroupFoundationNewAgendaSeries™,Vol.2,No.2,March2000,pp.21-
30
‘NeesimaMemorialLectures,DoshishaUniversity,Kyoto,Japan;DoshishaWomen'sCollege,Tanabe
Campus,Kyotanabe-shi,Japan;(publishedDoshishaUniversity)Included:"WomenStudying:The
PoliticsofEducatingWomen,”"StudyingWomen:InternationalizingWomen’sStudies,”DeliveredApril,
10and11,1999
INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS/TRAVELS
=InternationalSustainableCampusNetworkConference,onlyNorthAmericaninstitutiontoreceivea
‘SustainableCampusExcellenceAward,Singapore,June2013
WorldSymposiumonSustainableDevelopmentatUniversities,Rio+20UnitedNationsConferenceon
SustainableDevelopment,Brazil,June2012
PittsburghMiddleEastInstitute,DelegationtoOman,April2010
InstituteofInternationalEducation,DelegationtoIndia,February2010
EducationWithoutBorders,DubaiandAbuDhabi,March2009
InstituteofInternationalEducation,DelegationtoSoutheastAsia,June2008
DAAD:GermanyToday,June2007
WorldAffairsCouncilUSDelegationtoEgypt,February2005
GermanMarshalFund,PittsburghDelegationtoTurin,ItalyandLyon,France,June2004
IrelandInstituteofPittsburgh,InternationaldelegationtoNorthernIrelandtocreateacademic
exchanges,2000
UnitedNationsWomen’sConferenceinBeijing,China,headofdelegationofstudentsandfacultyfrom
USwomen’scolleges,1995
OthertravelstoEurope,Brazil,SouthAfrica,Namibia,Guatemala,Haiti,Cuba,Mexico,India,Pakistan,
Japan,Korea,Dubai.LedmanyChathamalumni/friendsdelegations
HONORSANDAWARDS
=Featuredin“AWoman'sPlace”—currentexhibitof“History-MakingWomen”inPittsburghatSenator
JohnHeinzHistoryCenter,Spring2024 “EstherLBarazzoneCenter”,MainbuildingonnewEdenHallCampus,namedbyChathamBoardof
Trustees,2016
RachelCarsonAward,ChathamUniversity,Commencement2016
“EstherL.BarazzoneDay”inCityofPittsburgh,andAlleghenyCounty,April26,2016
LifetimeAchievementAward,asa“MostAdmiredCEO",PittsburghBusinessTimes,2016
AssociationofGoverningBoardsJohnNasonAwardtoBoardandPresidentfor“exemplaryinstitutional
governanceandcourage,especiallyinchallengingtimes”,2016
TheNationalDiversityCouncil'sMostPowerfulandInfluentialWomenAward,2015
PittsburghBusinessTimesDiamondAward,2012
DiversityRecognitionAward,TurkishCulturalCenter,2011
HistoryMakerinEducation,JohnHeinzHistoryCenter,2006
ItalianAmericanPersonoftheYear,2005
Gandhi,King,IkedaAwardforOutstandingLeadershipforPeaceandHumanitarianism,fromMorehouse
College,2004
DistinguishedDaughterofPennsylvania,2001
UniversityMedal,fromFatimaJinnahWomen’sUniversity,Rawalpindi,Pakistan,2001
HonoraryDoctorate,SeoulWomen’sUniversity,Seoul,Korea,February,2000
HonoraryDoctorateofHumaneLetters,DoshishaWomen’sCollege,KyotoJapan,1999
‘SusanB.AnthonyLeadershipAward,Women’sLeadershipAssembly,1999
ListedinmanyWho'sWhoeditions,includingWho'sWhoinAmerica
PERSONAL
MarriedtoSamBlack,attorney.Wehave5adultchildren,enjoytraveling,cookingandthearts.Ispeak
SpanishandcollectJapaneseprints.
(Resume2024)
Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor's Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Esther Barazzone
Dr. Esther Barazzone is an experienced educator and administrator with
years of experience in managing educational institutions and universities.
She recently served as the President of Chatham University.
Prior to her tenure at Chatham University, Dr. Barazzone served as a
faculty member and administrator at Hamilton and Kirkland Colleges, the
University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, and Philadelphia
University. Dr. Barazzone has received many honors for her work,
including the PNC Women of Legacy Award (2015); Pittsburgh Business Times Diamond Award
(2012); History Maker in Education, Senator H. John Heinz III History Center (2006); the Vectors
Pittsburgh Woman of the Year in Education (1999); and YWCA Leadership Award in Education
(1999). She has also been recognized for her work on the advancement of women with the Susan
B. Anthony Leadership Award from the Women's Leadership Assembly (1999).
A Ward 3 resident, Dr. Barazzone earned her Bachelor of Arts from New College, and her Master
of Arts and PhD from Columbia University. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Tomás Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: June 28, 2024
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolution nominating Esther Barazzone as a member
of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above- referenced resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Michael Porcello , Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish