Syracuse University Board Officers
Jeffrey M. Scruggs, Chairman
Jeffrey M. Scruggs is a managing director at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was head of the Public Sector and Infrastructure (PSI) banking department within the Global Banking and Markets Division for 17 years after joining Goldman Sachs in 2008. Since stepping down as the department business unit leader in February 2026, he remains a senior banker and chairman within PSI.
Kathleen A. Walters '73, ‘H23, Chair Emeritus
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 Alexander is of Counsel and Chair Emeritus 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.
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 veteran of more than five decades in the media industry, 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 fall 2025, he served as the lead play-by-play announcer as NBC Sports returned to coverage of the NBA.
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.