The University announced the appointment of nine alumni to the board of trustees on June 19.
The group of new trustees represents a varied collection of post-University experiences ranging from two politicians to a longtime Trenton community activist.
Among those new trustees elected by the alumni body, current students and the sitting trustees are two African-American alumni, one of whom is female.
The board appointed former Harvard University President Neil Rudenstine '56, Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes '54 and Iowa Rep. James Leach '64 to four-year terms.
President Clinton's former assistant secretary of state for European and Canadian affairs, Stephen Oxman '67, will serve on the board for 10 years.
Other notable appointees include president of the Trenton-based non-profit group Isles Inc. Martin Johnson '81, president of a San Francisco-based investment firm Kathryn Hall '80, architectural firm president Preston Haskell '60, mutual fund corporation president Mellody Hobson '91 and young alumni trustee Charles Brown '02.
Though the new trustees are elected by two different methods — either by alumni or current trustees — the responsibilities are equally distributed among the new appointees, said University Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62, whose office works closely with the board to prepare agendas and materials for the five annual meetings.
The nine new trustees will be joining the ranks of other trustees, two of whom are specifically charged with representing the interests of the Graduate School. N.J. Gov. James McGreevey and President Tilghman hold de facto positions on the board.
All the appointees have contributed to the University before in various positions. Haskell has served on the advisory council to the Art Museum, Oxman served on the advisory council for the Wilson School and Johnson began his community redevelopment while a senior at the University.
Johnson said he was surprised and honored that his alumni peers selected him for election to the board.
"I'm not your typical Princeton trustee profile," Johnson said. "I've been wrestling in the trenches for 21 years in neighborhoods where you don't often see any real connection between Princeton and the work. I wasn't expecting to be on anyone's list, but it's a pleasant surprise and indeed a real honor."
Given that his profession centers around educating students and community members on environmental and redevelopment issues, Johnson said he plans to use his new position to encourage a closer connection between the University and its surrounding cities.
The board of trustees oversees the majority of the decisions and actions taken at the University such as managing the funds and endowment, approving the budgets, overseeing major campus improvement projects and authorizing the hiring of faculty members.
Past decisions have included the approval of President Tilghman as the University's president in 2001 and the Wythes plan to increase the student body by 500 and to build a sixth residential college to accommodate those students.
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