William Dodge Rueckert, a member of the Teachers College Board of Trustees since 1997, will become Co-chair of the Trustees at the October 23rd Board meeting, replacing Antonia Grumbach. He will share his duties as Co-chair with Trustee Jack Hyland, who took over for Pat Cloherty in October of 2002.

"I have found my role as a Trustee of the College to be very rewarding and look forward to continuing to help direct the future of the College for many years to come," Rueckert said about his new role. "I am particularly flattered by the Board's confidence in electing me to serve as Co-chair with Jack Hyland. I have seen the effective leadership that Jack and my predecessor, Antonia Grumbach, have brought over the past few years and I hope to be able to make a similar contribution."

Rueckert, who serves as president of Rosow & Company, Inc., a private investment firm, and president of International Golf Group, a firm that owns and manages golf courses, is the grandson of Cleveland E. Dodge who was a TC Trustee for 67 years and whose aunt, Grace Hoadley Dodge, was one of the founders of the College. Rueckert serves as director and president of the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation.

"My family has been involved with Teachers College since its beginnings through Grace Dodge and then the many years of service on the Board by my grandfather, Cleveland E. Dodge," Rueckert noted. "Teachers College has been at the forefront of education in America since its founding in 1887. For generations, Teachers College has helped our educators and administrators meet the many challenges that have faced our educational system. Those challenges and the need for quality education remain as critical now as at any time in the past 115 years. I am happy to be able to continue the work that [my family] found so important then, and which I believe is even more important now."

"Bill Rueckert is steeped in the history of TC having learned at the feet of his grandfather, who was chair of TC's Board from 1931 to 1963, the longest tenure of anyone holding that position," said Hyland.

He added, "For the last three years, Bill served as head of TC's Budget and Finance Committee, which gave him extensive grounding on all aspects of the College. I can't imagine better preparation for his new position, and besides all this he has excellent judgment, a good sense of humor and is a pleasure to work with. I am really pleased to welcome Bill Rueckert as Co-chair of the Board."

Rueckert also serves as a Trustee and Chairman of the Executive Committee of International House, is a Director of the YMCA of Greater New York, and a Director of Wave Hill, Inc.

Published Monday, Oct. 6, 2003