Syracuse University Board Officers
Jeffrey M. Scruggs, Chairman
Jeffrey M. Scruggs is a managing director at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he is head of the Public Sector and Infrastructure banking group within the Global Banking and Markets Division. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2008 as a managing director.
Kathleen A. Walters '73, ‘H23, Chair Emerita
Kathleen A. Walters is a retired senior executive with extensive leadership experience in the consumer products and paper industry, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, she was executive vice president and group president of Georgia-Pacific consumer products group.
Richard M. Alexander L’82, Vice Chair
Richard M. Alexander is a partner at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C. His practice involves some of the most significant enforcement, supervisory, and governance matters affecting the financial services industry. He has led the firm's representation of clients in high-profile matters initiated by, among others, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Alexander was the Managing Partner of the firm from 2005 through 2015 and the Chair of the firm from 2016 through 2024. He currently serves as the firm’s Chair Emeritus.
Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, Vice Chair
Steven W. Barnes is a senior advisor at Bain Capital LP. He has been affiliated with Bain since 1988 and previously served as chairman of global private equity. Bain is a leading global private investment firm that manages several pools of capital, including private equity, venture capital, public equity and leveraged debt assets, totaling more than $185 billion.
Lawrence S. Kramer '72, Vice Chair
Lawrence S. Kramer, founder of MarketWatch and a 45-year media industry veteran, served as president and publisher of the nation's largest newspaper, USA Today, from May 2012 until his retirement in July 2015, when he joined the board of directors of the USA Today parent company, Gannett Inc. (NYSE: GCI), and served on that board until the sale of the company in 2019.
Michael T. Tirico '88, Vice Chair
Michael T. Tirico is one of the most recognizable faces and voices in television sports coverage. In June 2016, he began working for NBC Sports Group on an array of high-profile properties, including Sunday Night Football, the Summer and Winter Olympics (which he hosted), and other major events. In the Fall of 2025 he will serve as the lead play-by-play announcer as NBC Sports returns to coverage of the NBA. His work has been recognized with multiple Emmy award wins and nominations.
Mary G. Opperman, Senior Vice President and University Secretary
Mary G. Opperman serves as Senior Vice President and University Secretary. She supports the work of the Board of Trustees, manages the Office of the Board of Trustees and works closely with the Board Chair, the Chancellor, senior administration and committee chairs of the Board, to provide counsel and guidance on strategy, policy and process.