Peter R. Dolan, A78, elected Chair Designate

Dear Members of the Tufts Community:

A great university looks to its Board of Trustees for inspiration, guidance and financial stewardship to support its mission and assure its long-term future. Tufts University has been fortunate to have such leadership, and I am writing today to share with you news of an important transition on our Board of Trustees that will assure that this tradition continues.

At the Board’s February 9 meeting, Peter R. Dolan A78 was elected Chair Designate, to succeed current Board Chair James A. Stern E72 when he steps down from the Board in November 2013.

Jim Stern has been a tireless supporter of Tufts since joining the Board in 1982. His numerous accomplishments include spearheading two successful capital campaigns that together raised more than $1.8 billion for Tufts. He has guided four Tufts presidents, and I count myself extremely fortunate to have had his counsel and support during my first two years at Tufts.

Peter Dolan shares the same passion for Tufts and has shown extraordinary commitment to the University for three decades. In addition to being a Jumbo himself, he is the father of a member of the Class of 2008.

Peter was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2001. Through his service, he has become intimately familiar with the University. He has been a member of eight Board committees and chaired the Administration and Finance, Audit, and Presidential Search Committees. He has served on the Executive Committee since 2003 and was elected a Vice Chair of the Board in 2008.

His leadership ability is further demonstrated by more than three decades of professional accomplishments. He spent eight years in marketing at General Foods and 18 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where he rose through the ranks to serve as CEO from 2001 to 2006. He was subsequently Chair and CEO of Gemin X, a venture capital backed oncology company that was successfully sold to Cephalon in 2011. He is now a director of Vitality Health, a health and wellness company, and an advisory board member of Valence Life Sciences Fund.

Peter has also advanced the cause of health and wellness through both volunteerism and personal philanthropy.

He is the chair of ChildObesity180, a multi-sector alliance of national leaders including Tufts that is committed to reversing the childhood obesity trend, and has helped to raise $16 million for the initiative. He is also a board member of the Partnership for a Healthier America; supporters of this nonpartisan nonprofit include honorary co-chair Michelle Obama and some of the nation’s most respected health and childhood obesity advocates. Peter has run numerous marathons and triathlons and completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in October 2007.

In addition to Tufts, other leaders in higher education have asked Peter to serve on their boards. He is a member of the Board of Overseers at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, from which he holds an M.B.A. He also serves on the Board of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

As you can see from Peter’s background, he is truly an accomplished leader and an active citizen in the finest tradition of Tufts. Please join me in congratulating our Chair Designate.

Jim and Peter will be working together to ensure a seamless transition when Peter assumes leadership of the Tufts Board in November. I hope you will join me in expressing deep appreciation to Jim Stern for his remarkable tenure. There will be opportunities in the coming months for the community to honor and thank him for his leadership, service and loyalty to Tufts University.

Best wishes,

Tony Monaco