The Board of Trustees’ Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee was established by Board Chair Ross Mauri ’80 to hear the concerns expressed by members of the Marist community and to identify specific actions the College can take to do better. The Committee is chaired by Dr. Stan Harris ’68, who is passionate about diversity and inclusion and feels strongly that this group should listen, become educated, and take action. The Committee and the entire Board of Trustees will be carefully monitoring the College’s progress on diversity and inclusion issues.

Stan Harris ’68 (Chair)

Stan Harris, MD is a graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine who completed his residency in Pediatrics, at the Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. He was most recently Medical Director III at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield Of New Jersey (10/1990 - 1/2017). He is a physician executive with more than thirty years of experience in medical management operations and leadership development. Under his leadership, his colleagues and teams have defined access to medically necessary care/ benefits through medical policy development for 3.8 million people in NJ. He has also served as the Chairman of the BCBS Association National Medical Policy Panel, which consisted of medical directors representing more than 32 BCBS health plans across the US. As the Assistant Vice President for Ambulatory Care for the NYC Health & Hospital Corporation, he and his team supported the operation of ambulatory care in the largest municipal hospital system in the US. Prior to going to NYC HHC, he served as Medical Director for Alternative Delivery Systems for Empire BCBS. Dr. Harris also served as a member of the NY Academy of Medicine IRB.

To facilitate optimal performance by those who lead, aspire, or have potential to lead by seeking the value in each person with whom they work, Dr. Harris has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Communication and Leadership. His passion is driven by a desire to bring a unique approach to leadership development, engagement, and motivation. He firmly believes that all individuals can add value to a team or organization. Dr. Harris has pursued this passion for more than a decade through presentations and workshops at both the corporate and college level.

Eileen Gilfedder Altobelli ’82

Eileen is Head of Client Services for the division of mutual fund recordkeeping at BNY Mellon where she leads a team of client relationship managers. Throughout her 30+ year career in financial services, her responsibilities have included operations management, product development, and project oversight.

She graduated from Marist in 1982 with a BS in Environmental Science and was a member of the women’s crew team. In June 2020, she accepted the position of President of the Alumni Association Executive Board.

Eileen, her husband Dave, and daughter Lauren reside in Franklin, Massachusetts where they have lived for the past 24 years.

When not working, the Altobellis enjoy traveling, skiing, and hosting New England Patriots football parties.

Laurie DeJong ’87/P’19

Laurie DeJong is the founder and CEO of LDJ Productions, a multi-million-dollar Event Management, Creative and Production Agency based in New York City. A former Calvin Klein executive, Laurie brings over 25 years of event and business operations experience to oversee the vision, strategic direction, and structure of the company. Laurie has quickly become sought after as a global business leader in a variety of fields including fashion, tech, beauty, media, and corporate events. Clients of LDJ include L’Oreal, New York Times, Rolling Stone, Google, Verizon Media, Rolls Royce, and many more fortune 500 companies, and served as the producing agency for New York Fashion Week. 

Laurie has been a longtime mentor of women and girls in developing nations throughout the world. Through these mentorships and global partnerships, Laurie soon realized the impact a small company can make in the world and founded LDJ’s “For Purpose” arm, The Paper Fig Foundation. Under Laurie’s leadership LDJ has held a spot on the Women Presidents Organization’s list of the “50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned Businesses in North America” and Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest growing companies for multiple years. Laurie DeJong is a 1987 graduate of Marist College and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Marist College, the Enterprising Women Advisory Board.

Robert R. Dyson

Robert “Rob” R. Dyson is Chairman and CEO of The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a privately owned, diversified investment holding company that was founded by his father Charles H. Dyson in 1954. Rob also owns and manages a diverse array of private investments, and earlier in his career had been the founder and owner of a regional radio broadcasting group of Hudson Valley radio stations. Civic and community leadership is important to Rob and he currently serves on the boards of Nuvance Health, Marist College, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation and is a life member of the board of Trustees of Cornell University. Rob carries on a Dyson family tradition both in his personal philanthropy and through the work of the Dyson Foundation. The Foundation, which Rob has led as Chairman since 2000, made grants of $10 million in 2019 and more than $381 million since its founding in 1957. Rob earned a BA in Economics from Marietta College and an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Rob lives in Millbrook, NY, and has two children and six grandchildren.

John Klein ’70, FMS

Brother John Klein, FMS has extensive experience in both religious and school leadership. He served two terms as the Provincial of the former Marist Brothers Esopus Province and became the first Provincial of the Province of the United States in 2003. In 2009 he was elected as a member of the Marist Brothers General Council in Rome. From 1997-1999 he was the President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in the U.S.

Prior to his tenure as Provincial, he was the Principal of Archbishop Molloy High School and later the President of Marist High School in Bayonne, New Jersey. He also earned his Doctorate in American History from Fordham University in 1980.

A Marist College graduate in 1970, Brother John has served as a member of the Marist College Board of Trustees for over ten years.

Christopher G. McCann ’83

Chris McCann, President and Chief Executive Officer, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., is responsible for the company’s operations across all of its brands and businesses. He oversees the company’s strategic, operational, and organizational processes, including the development, implementation, and execution of annual and longer-term strategic, operating, and budget plans.

Chris joined the organization in 1984, helping lead the disruption of the flower industry with the company’s innovative use of 800# watts-line technology and subsequently helping transform the company with the adoption of online technology as a pioneer in e-commerce.  He served as President of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. for several years and was named CEO in 2016. Chris has played a pivotal role in building 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.’s reputation as one of the leading e-commerce and multi-channel retailers in the country. He is well-known for embracing technology innovations that enhance customer engagement, particularly in the areas of social, mobile, and conversational commerce. Chris believes strongly in the company’s mantra that its “best product is the customer experience.” As a result of his leadership in driving a culture of innovation at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., Chris was named to the National Retail Federation's "The List of People Shaping Retail's Future 2018.” Additionally, the company was named one of 2017's most innovative e-retailers on the Internet Retailer 'Hot 100' list.

Chris currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of IGHL, a facility dedicated to the enrichment of the lives of developmentally disabled adults, a cause that is near to his heart. In 2005, together with his brother Jim, he helped found Smile Farms Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing meaningful job opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Today, Smile Farms operates eight campuses and employs over 140 individuals. Chris also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Marist College.

Chris earned a BA in Political Science from Marist College.

Genine McCormick ’88

Genine McCormick is a CPA from Long Island, NY who has previously worked for Arthur Andersen & Co and Morgan Stanley.  She serves as the Treasurer of the McCormick Family Foundation which she created with her husband Michael to support programs that create a positive impact on children’s lives.  She was Chair of the Board of Holy Child Academy in Old Westbury, NY, and currently sits on the Marist College Board of Trustees Executive Committee as well as Chairs the Audit Committee and is a trustee on the Advancement Committee. Genine is also the Secretary and Treasurer in a newly formed public charity, Abaco Medical Relief Fund, which is being established to provide medical care to the people on the island of Abaco, Bahamas which was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.

Alvin A. Patrick Jr. ’86

Alvin Patrick is a 32-year veteran of broadcast, digital, and cable network television. He has been a news, sports and entertainment executive and producer at CBS, ABC, HBO, MTV, and ESPN. He is currently the Executive Producer of CBS News’ Race and Culture Unit. Since 2012, Mr. Patrick has produced stories across all CBS News platforms – including 60 Minutes, CBS Evening News, Sunday Morning, 48 Hours, Face the Nation, and CBS This Morning – with special correspondent James Brown.

Mr. Patrick has received numerous awards for his work, including six (6) National Emmy award nominations, six (6) National Association of Black Journalists awards, a Gabriel Award, and a Freddie Award.  He also shared two (2) Edward R. Murrow Awards with his colleagues at CBS News.

Mr. Patrick serves on the Board of Trustees of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 2015, he received the Marist College Distinguished Alumni Medal, the highest award given to a Marist graduate.

Mr. Patrick earned an MFA in television production from Brooklyn College in 1988 and a BA in Communication Arts (broadcast journalism) from Marist College in 1986.

Jerome Pickett ’98

As Executive Vice President & Chief Security Officer at the National Basketball Association, Jerome Pickett oversees all aspects of the league’s global security operations.  Prior to joining the NBA in October 2014, Jerome spent 16 years with the United States Secret Service (USSS).  Jerome has received numerous awards, including the U.S. Secret Service Medal of Valor for his heroic actions during 9/11. Jerome earned a Masters in Homeland Security from American Military University and a BA in Criminal Justice from Marist College.  He is currently pursuing an MBA with a focus in Ethical Leadership from Marist College and serves on the Marist College Board of Trustees.