By Vanessa Langdon
Staff Writer
Every college has one, but many people outside of the board and administration are unsure of what, exactly, a Board of Trustees is and does. Kevin O’Connor, 60, is the Chairman of the Trustee Affairs and Governance Committee for the College’s Board of Trustees.
O’Connor has been a member of the board for 13 years. He became involved after being approached by former College President Mark Sullivan and former trustee Jim Menzies.
“It has turned out to be the most rewarding volunteer board position that I have held,” O’Connor said.
Trustees of the College are responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction of the College. They ensure that the College is financially sound and adhering to good business practices. Additionally, the trustees make sure the mission of the College founders, the Sister of Saint Joseph Of Carondelet, is carried out and that the President is held accountable for the daily operation of the College.
As Chairmen of the Trustee Affairs and Governance Committee, O’Connor is responsible for the cultivation and nomination of new board members. Members must reflect the diversity of the student body and have the range of professional and personal skills necessary to exercise their legal obligations as trustees.
In addition to holding a chairperson position, O’Connor sits on three other committees- Executive, Financial Affairs and Physical Plant, and Development Committees.
Trustees typically meet two to three times a month, but that is flexible depending on College events, how many committees a trustee sits on, and if they hold a chair position, according to O’Connor. Members of the Board receive no compensation for the time dedicated to the college.
“The only income is the personal satisfaction. It feels good to know you are doing something for students that will have a positive and long-lasting impact on the trajectory of their lives,” O’Connor said.
Trustees recently met and spent two days at a strategic planning retreat. People came from all over the country to attend.
“The College’s trustees are a highly dedicated group of people and are very generous with their time,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor was born in Queens and attended Catholic schools his entire childhood in New York City.
“I feel that serving as a trustee for Saint Rose is my way of giving back for having been educated in the Catholic tradition and the opportunities that arose from my upbringing and education,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor received a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in public administration from the State University of New York College at Brockport. He now lives in Albany with his wife and three children.
O’Connor is currently self-employed. He recently retired from FirstLight Fiber, where he was one of the company’s founders and served as CEO for 13 years. Prior to his employment at FirstLight Fiber, O’Connor was the President of the Center for Economic Growth in Albany for 8 years, and before that was in the New York State government, holding various positions for 11 years.
In addition to his commitment as a trustee of the College, O’Connor chairs the Albany Police and Fire Foundation, the Albany Parking Authority, and is a member of the board of two private companies- Albany Molecular Research and FirstLight Fiber.
Becoming a trustee is no small feat. The Trustee Affairs and Governance Committee, which O’Connor chairs, maintains a matrix of the skills and perspectives they believe are needed to effectively govern the College, including having a diverse board that is reflective of the student body, people skilled in the professional services and private business, both domestic and international.
“When board vacancies arise, we make every attempt to fill the seat with someone who has the necessary skills and who might fill a gap in the skills we need to govern the College,” O’Connor said.
One-third of the trustees are Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, to ensure their original mission is not lost. The Trustee Affairs and Governance Committee ultimately makes a recommendation that must be approved by the entire board once a candidate has been thoroughly vetted, sometimes for a year, by the president and board chair.
“The trustees bring to the Board a vast pool of talent and experience that would be difficult to assemble in any other organization, and if you had to hire them the cost would be astronomical,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor brings over 35 years of experience in government, non-profit, and private business to the board, and again, attended Catholic schools growing up.
According to O’Connor, he wishes there was more interaction between students and trustees.
“We do have a representative of the Student Government who presents at our meetings and we frequently hear presentations from students, staff and faculty on the great things happening at the College,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor believes there can never be enough interaction between the board and the students, but maintains that the board is very focused on the students and that their experiences at the College are factored into every decision they make at the board.
“The College has one of the most engaged, thoughtful, committed and diligent boards that I have ever sat on, including private companies, government entities and other nonprofit boards of directors with which I am involved,” O’Connor said.
