I spent the last decade across the Midway at the University of Chicago Law School and first got to witness Chicago Booth's excellence through my lens into the JD/MBA program. From the joint degree program graduates I met, to the Booth Advancement staff I worked with during that time, it was clear that Booth was an exceptional place, and I am thrilled to have joined the institution.
The most important factors for my joining Booth were the mission and people. Booth has exceptional leadership in Dean Rajan and his senior team, boasts a world-class faculty, and provides a transformative education for students who go on to thrive in many different industries and fields. While sustaining its well-deserved reputation for excellence and rigor, Booth is committed to innovation and seizing opportunities such as creating new degree programs or launching academic centers and initiatives. I'm incredibly excited to have the chance to work with my colleagues in Booth Advancement and across the school in service of such a worthy mission and such important work.
Candidly, I never expected to pursue a career in this field. Growing up, my father led development at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and I have vivid memories of running around reunions as a kid and being very confused at the idea of returning to a former school decades after graduation, apparently with great excitement and loyalty. And yet, here I am!
After moving to Chicago following my graduation from the University of Virginia, I began working in advancement as a short-term opportunity while I settled into a new city. I soon realized I loved the work and spent more than a decade working at the global headquarters of Easter Seals, a charity that provides services for children and adults with disabilities. Eventually, I became interested in moving to higher education and was introduced to the team at the University of Chicago Law School, which I joined in 2015. Across my career, I have found it rewarding to build partnerships with dedicated supporters who care deeply about an organization, in service both of the impact made possible today as well as the opportunity to position an institution for future success.
Over the next few months, I'm looking forward to meeting alumni, listening to different experiences and perspectives, and helping support Dean Rajan's vision for Booth as well as the work of our faculty. I have the incredible luxury of joining an advancement team and institution that operates at an extremely high level, and is powered by talented professionals who care deeply about ensuring Booth's excellence in the decades to come. Part of my responsibility is deepening the connections between our alumni community and the school, as those relationships are a source of great strength and provide critical engagement and support to the institution.
Something that really inspires me is the fact that across our entire institution, there is a shared commitment to excellence that permeates our work, as well as a strong desire to continue to improve. Booth has many programs that are operating successfully, and it would be easy to rest on our laurels. And yet the discussions around the school are around what changes we need to consider to improve outcomes for students, maintain Booth's leadership at the cutting edge of business education, and help position our graduates to respond to changing industry dynamics.
I love to travel and experience other cultures, and the more far-flung or involved a trip is, the better! Part of that enjoyment comes from having the advantage of dual citizenship (with Italy) and family members that live abroad. As our two sons are getting closer and closer to college age and leaving home, my wife and I try to hit at least one new country each year as we work through our family travel bucket list.
I grew up in New England, and so was familiar with cities like Boston and New York. It wasn't until high school that I visited Chicago for the first time, and I was struck by what a unique balance of activity and approachability exists here. I was excited to move here after college and have loved raising a family in the city (we live in Lincoln Park). Chicago has so much going for it, from the lakefront, the parks in each neighborhood, and the restaurants, to the seasons (yes, even winter!) and the friendliness of the people.