Board

Chair

Dorothea B. Schlosser

Dorothea Schlosser graduated in 1993 from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.  After several years working in the field of technology, she joined PeopleSoft in 1997 implementing large enterprise information systems in organizations including Aetna and Cushman and Wakefield.  She became a Consulting Manager and managed a team of 35 consultants.

Elected trustee of Oliver Scholars in 2010, she easily earned the respect and confidence of the board by virtue of her strong, heartfelt commitment to the Oliver Scholars mission. Given her natural ability to think strategically, she led her fellow trustees through a revitalizing five-year plan.  Elected to Board Chair in 2013, her thorough understanding of the financial implications and requirements of this plan will steadily guide an ever strengthening Oliver Scholars into the future.

Vice Chair

Louisa S. Troubh

Upon graduating from Hamilton College, Louisa worked in human resources in a large teaching hospital in Boston.  In New York, Louisa worked for a management consulting firm specializing in compensation and salary management.  After leaving the job market to raise her family, Louisa became very involved with her children’s schools, ultimately serving on the board of Allen-Stevenson as President of the Parents Association.  She was a member of the Parent’s Advisory Council at Bowdoin College and served on the board of her co-op.  Louisa joined the Oliver Scholar’s Board of Trustees in 1996 and is currently Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Development Committee.

Secretary

Keith E. Canton ’93

Keith is a Managing Director and Head of Private Capital Markets at J.P. Morgan. Keith focuses on structuring and raising capital for corporations for a variety of purposes across multiple industries. Keith is a proud alum of Oliver Scholars (Class of 1993) as well as a member of the Oliver Board of Trustees. Keith has experienced firsthand the significant benefits and profound life changes that Oliver provides its students and credits Oliver for playing a large role in his personal and professional development. As a result, Keith has been driven to give back and support Oliver in the mission to provide outstanding educational opportunities to African-American and Latino students in the NYC area. After Oliver, Keith received a B.S. from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Member

Terry- Ann Burrell ’95

Terry-Ann Burrell is Chief Financial Officer of Beam. Prior to Beam, Ms. Burrell spent 11 years with J.P. Morgan, most recently as a Managing Director in the healthcare investment banking group. There, she had broad coverage across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, helping to execute over $10 billion in equity and equity linked financings and more than $50 billion in M&A transactions. She was instrumental in advising clients on transaction considerations, including strategic rationale, valuation and structuring, and engaged with more than 100 companies during her tenure. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Ms. Burrell worked in equity research at Citigroup, where she covered specialty pharmaceuticals and generics. Ms. Burrell holds an MBA from New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a B.A. from Harvard University.
Terry-Ann is an alumna of Oliver Scholars

Member

Nicholas Doering-Dorival ’98

Nicholas Doering-Dorival is a Partner at Apollo Global Management. He is responsible for acquisitions in the firm's US Real Estate opportunity fund, and helps set the fund's strategy. Prior to Apollo, Nick was a Senior Vice President at Starwood Capital Group from 2010 to 2019, where he was responsible for over $6.5 billion of real estate acquisitions in the US and Europe across all property types. From 2006-2008, Nick developed tax credit affordable housing at Carlisle Development Group. Prior to that, he was an Associate with the Exodus Group from 2004 to 2006, and an Analyst at JP Morgan Asset Management in the Real Estate Investment Group from 2002 to 2004.

Nick earned his MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. At Harvard, he was awarded the Bert King Fellowship in honor of his service to fellow students in the African American Student Union. Nick graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS degree in Economics (Wharton) and a BAS degree in Systems Engineering; he was also a Joseph Wharton Scholar. Nick is a CFA charterholder. He was born and raised in the Bronx, and is a proud alum of Oliver Scholars (’98) as well as SEO and Toigo. Nick lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two daughters.

Member

Eric Epstein

ERIC P. EPSTEIN, Managing Member; President.  Mr. Epstein joined Davidson Kempner in February 2000, became a Managing Member in January 2004 and President in January 2020.  Previously, Mr. Epstein was a Managing Director at M.D. Sass Investor Services, where he oversaw the U.S. Sales and Marketing effort from January 1999 to January 2000 and was on the investment committee for the M.D. Sass Multi-Strategy Fund.  From February 1995 to December 1998, he was Managing Partner of EJ Advisors, LLC, a middle-market investment banking advisory firm in Atlanta.  From March 1993 to January 1995, Mr. Epstein was a Vice President of Bear Stearns, Inc. in New York City where he worked for the Asset Management and Financial Services Groups.  From January 1991 to February 1993, Mr. Epstein was the Director of Marketing and a Portfolio Manager for the Asset Management Division of C.J. Lawrence, Deutsche Bank.  He received an M.S. from the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate in 1990 and received a B.A. in Economics from Clark University in 1989.  Mr. Epstein is Chair of the investment committee and a Trustee of Clark University, a member of the Board of The Managed Funds Association, a member of the Board of Trustees of Oliver Scholars, and a member of the finance committee of The Dwight-Englewood School.

Member

Jon Fox

Jon Fox is a Partner and President. He is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Based in New York, he joined Värde in 2013 and has led the firm’s New York office since 2019.

In addition to his role in global firm leadership, Jon oversees Business Development and Investor Relations, product development, and Communications & Public Affairs.

Prior to joining Värde, Jon was Managing Director and Co-Head of International Capital Formation at Fortress Investment Group. He was previously a Director at Lehman Brothers in Senior Relationship Management in London after serving in corporate strategy roles for the firm’s Investment Management Division in New York. He previously held roles in technology companies including Yahoo and started his investment management career at Lazard.

Jon received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School. In addition sitting on the Oliver Scholars board, he also serves on the boards of trustees of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Foundation and on the Business Council of the Asia Society.

Member

Jaky Joseph

Jaky Joseph is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs. He previously served as director of public finance investment banking and Bank of America Securities. Previously, he worked at Public Financial Management, Inc., in the Quantitative Strategies Group, where he advised on complex bond transactions and built proprietary financial models.
A double major in economics and mathematics while at the College, Joseph received an M.S. in quantitative finance from Rutgers University in 2010. He was a member of the Alumni Council from 2010 to 2015, serving as co-chair
of the student working group from 2013 to 2015.  He is currently on the board and steering committee for the Richard Rubin Scholars Program.
He has been a volunteer on the Oliver Scholars Finance Committee for two years.

Member

Michael Kessler

Michael Kessler is a Partner at Alston & Bird, LLP. Prior to that, he was Counsel in the Capital Markets group of Clifford Chance's New York office, where he regularly advised private equity firms, hedge fund managers, clean energy companies and real estate businesses in domestic and international capital markets offerings. Michael's experience also includes a secondment to the Singapore office of Clifford Chance where he worked on a number of significant matters for the firm's India practice. He has served on a committee of the board of Keigwin + Company, a modern dance company. Michael received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center. Michael has a passion for public service and he has made considerable pro bono service contributions throughout his legal career. Over the last few years, he and his firm have worked extensively with the Children's Arts Guild, a nonprofit dedicated to offering art and creativity educational opportunities to under-served children. His team prepares CAG's fundraising related state filings, and advises CAG on its growth strategy, including their acquisition and integration of Creative Classrooms, another nonprofit with similar core values. His work alongside CAG earned him a 2016 Cornerstone Award from the Lawyers Alliance for New York honoring outstanding pro bono legal services to nonprofits and he joined the board of CAG in January 2016. Michael also represents Oliver Scholars in connection with the establishment of an endowment fund to support its ongoing operations. Michael lives in the West Village neighborhood of New York City with his wife, Katherine, and their two young sons, Daniel and James. His favorite things include time with his family, good food and wine, and travel.

Member

Dr. Lisa Long

Lisa Long has been with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) for nearly twenty years. Currently, she is Supervisor of Education Programs in the Office of Accountability, which oversees accountability and compliance for schools and Local Educational Agencies in New York State. The Office works to close the achievement gap by identifying and supporting schools and districts that are low-performing, as well as those interested in replicating the best practices of the State’s Recognition Schools.  Until 2010, Lisa managed the team responsible for authorizing charter schools located in New York City. Prior to joining NYSED, Lisa worked for the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching, where she conducted research in New York City Public Schools.  She is also a former classroom teacher.  Lisa is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and a sustaining volunteer with the Junior League of the City of New York. Lisa has previously served on charter school and non-profit boards. A native of Georgia, she is a graduate of Spelman College and Georgia State University. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Columbia University Teachers College.

Member

Don Lemon

Don Lemon anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon airing weeknights at 10:00 p.m. He also serves as a correspondent across CNN/U.S. programming. Based out of the network's New York bureau, Lemon joined CNN in September 2006.

He has reported and anchored on-the-scene for CNN from many breaking news stories, including the Las Vegas shooting (2017), the Orlando shooting at Pulse Nightclub (2016), the Charleston church shooting (2015), the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri (2014), the George Zimmerman trial (2013), the Boston marathon bombing (2013), the Philadelphia building collapse (2013), the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting (2012), the Colorado theater shooting (2012), the death of Whitney Houston, the Inaugural of the 44th President in Washington, D.C., the death of Michael Jackson (2009), Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana (2008), and the Minneapolis bridge collapse (2007).

Lemon served as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College, teaching and participating in curriculum designed around new media. He earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College and also attended Louisiana State University.

Member

Adrian Millan ’94

 Adrian Millan is a Managing Director and founding member of the PJT Park Hill Secondary Advisory Group. Mr. Millan leads Global LP Advisory and specializes in the sale of limited partner interests on behalf of institutional clients. In addition, he has extensive experience advising on structures that provide partial liquidity to alternative asset investors globally including securitizations and portfolio recapitalizations. Mr. Millan has advised clients on over $25BN in secondary interests across 100+ transactions. He has completed many of the largest secondary portfolio transactions globally and is a featured speaker on secondary market trends. Mr. Millan is based in New York and joined the firm in 2009. 

Mr. Millan has spent over 18 years in financial services and advisory roles within the banking and private equity industry. Prior to joining PJT Partners, Mr. Millan was Director of Alternative Investments at Citigroup where he was responsible for leading secondary transactions and business development initiatives including the acquisition and spin-off of several captive private equity managers. Prior to Citigroup, Mr. Millan was a member of the Global Telecommunications, Media and Technology investment banking practice at J. P. Morgan Chase. 

Mr. Millan received a BA with honors in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He lives with his wife and two children in Rye, NY. 

Member

Raina Oberoi

Raina is a Managing Director at MSCI and heads the Americas Index Solutions Research team in New York. Raina and her team work closely with clients to help solve investment problems using  thought leading research and powerful investment tools. Raina also heads the philanthropic committee at MSCI to further drive her passion to give back to the community. Prior to MSCI, Raina was an index trading strategist at Morgan Stanley. Raina comes with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Member

Edward Olanow

Edward Olanow joined Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers in 2005, where he worked for almost a decade as a member of the firm's Macro strategy. In 2015, he assumed the role of structuring new products for the Weiss platform and is currently the Director of Investment Solutions and Co-Portfolio Manager for the Weiss Alternative Multi-Strategy Fund. Previously, Edward worked as a quantitative analyst at Anchor Point Asset Management, a global macro fund. He began his investment career as a research and quantitative analyst with Citibank Global Asset Management where he designed global equity valuation toolsets for the fundamental research team and econometrics models for the firm's asset allocation committee. Edward holds a BA degree in Economics from Emory University.

Member

Yvonne Quinn

Yvonne Quinn was a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP for 34 years until retiring in 2018 and
continuing to practice with the firm as Of Counsel. Yvonne is a litigator who focuses on antitrust and competition matters involving civil litigation, criminal enforcement, merger review and counseling. Yvonne was raised on a small farm in central Illinois but moved to New York in 1977 after obtaining a BA in economics from the University of Illinois, a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and an MA in economics from the Rackham School of Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan. Over the years, Yvonne has sought to give back to the New York community by serving on boards such as the Harlem School of the Arts, the New York Women’s Foundation and now Oliver Scholars.

Member

Shirley Rumierk ’95

Shirley Rumierk was born and raised in New York City of Puerto Rican and Colombian descent, and she was a series regular playing the role of "Vanessa Suarez" on the Jason Katims series, RISE for NBC. She recurred on Jenji Kohan's Netflix series, TEENAGE BOUNTY HUNTERS as "Yolanda Carrion". She previously recurred on NBC's MANIFEST as Autumn Cox and guest-starred on CHICAGO PD, NEW AMSTERDAM and POWER. She starred in the independent film, 11:55 and can also be seen in David Frankel’s feature COLLATERAL BEAUTY starring Will Smith. Shirley is a board member and alumna of The 52nd Street Project and an alumna of Oliver Scholars. Shirley is a graduate of Harvard University and Trinity School.

 

Member

Gustavo Schwed

Gustavo Schwed is a Professor of Management Practice at NYU Stern School of Business and a Visiting Professor at Princeton University. He teaches courses in private equity, venture capital, and entrepreneurial finance to graduate and undergraduate MBA students. Professor Schwed received the NYU Stern Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and was named NYU Stern’s Professor of the Year by the 2015 MBA graduating class. 

Prior to joining Stern, Professor Schwed was an investment professional in the private equity industry. During his twenty-five year career, he worked at venture capital and buy-out firms and lived in and practiced private equity in the US, Europe, and Latin America. 

Professor Schwed was a partner and Managing Director at Providence Equity Partners, the world’s largest media and telecommunications specialist private equity firm, with over $40 billion of assets under management. Working in the London office, he was one of the partners responsible for the firm’s European business. He participated in the fund raising of Providence VI, a $12 billion fund which was the largest industry specialized private equity fund ever raised. While at Providence, he led several transactions in the telecommunications industry, including the largest LBO in European history at the time.

Prior to joining Providence, Professor Schwed was a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Private Equity, where he launched and ran the firm’s Latin American private equity business out of the firm’s Sao Paulo office and became the Chairman of the firm’s Global Emerging Markets Fund, Morgan Stanley’s vehicle for private equity investing in Latin America, Asia, and Central Europe. He subsequently moved to London where he became one of three partners running Morgan Stanley’s European private equity business. 

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Professor Schwed was an Executive Director at Bassini, Playfair + Associates (BPA). He helped BPA raise and manage a $300 million Latin America private equity fund, one of the first of its kind. While at BPA, he moved to Brazil where he opened and co-ran the firm’s Brazilian office. He began his post MBA career at the New York office of Sprout Group, the venture capital affiliate of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) where he developed the firm’s practice in medical devices venture investing. 

Professor Schwed currently serves on the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College, where he is a member of the Finance and Investment Committees 

Professor Schwed received a BA with High Honors from Swarthmore College in 1984 and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1988. He is a US, UK and Argentine citizen and speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese. 

Member

Basil Smikle Jr.

Basil Smikle Jr. is a Distinguished Lecturer of Politics and Public Policy at the City University of
New York’s Murphy Institute, and a Democratic Strategist whose commentary has been regularly featured
on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and in TheHill.com where he is a contributor. Basil was most recently the
Executive Director of the New York Democratic Party during which time he was the “second highest
ranking Democrat” in the State. A PhD candidate at Teachers College at Columbia University
concentrating in Education and Politics, he is also an adjunct lecturer at Columbia’s School of International
and Public Affairs.
As Executive Director of the Democratic Party, he worked closely with the Chair, Buffalo Mayor
Byron Brown, and Governor Andrew Cuomo to manage strategic and fundraising activities for the State,
which included fundraising and oversight of a multi-million-dollar operating budget. He recruited
candidates for political office and worked closely with the Democratic National Committee to create
partnerships, engage donors and act as surrogate for local and national media outlets.
Recognized as a staunch advocate for public service and education equity, he is part of the next
generation of thinkers and policy advocates. Basil was featured in the L.A. Times as “Harlem’s New
Political Elite”. City Hall Magazine once named him one of 50 rising stars in New York Politics. United
States Senator Cory Booker called him a "much sought-after consultant”. Rev. Sharpton called him
an “impressive speaker”; Former Governor David Paterson noted that Basil is a “national caliber political
operative”.
He gained national attention for his reforms in education and government. An early profile in the
Wall Street Journal led to a feature in a New York Magazine cover story on the next generation of African
American leaders. The New York Daily News called Basil a “fresh thinking...school reformer”. The New
York Post “enthusiastically” said “New York needs such vibrant leadership”.
Basil was a senior aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton during her first campaign for Senate and later on
her Senate staff. Mrs. Clinton called Basil a “key advisor and tremendous public servant...who makes sure
all voices are heard”. Ron Kirk, the former Mayor of Dallas and President Obama’s former US Trade
Representative, noted that Basil can “negotiate the politics of any community and knows how to marry it
with sound public policy”.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University in Industrial and Labor Relations
and received a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University’s School of International
and Public Affairs.
A life-long New Yorker and raised in the Bronx by Jamaican immigrants, he is inspired by his
father, a retired textile worker, and mother, a long-time public school special education teacher.
Basil is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons,
and 100 Black Men of New York where he helped start the Eagle Academy in the Bronx which has grown
to 6 schools in New York and New Jersey. He is also a founding Board Member of the Harlem Hebrew
Academy Charter School and sits on the Board of the NYC Center for Charter Excellence.

Life Trustee

Judith-Ann Corrente

Judith is the Managing Member of Despina Arts LLC, which focuses on fine arts investments. She is also President of the Monteforte Foundation, Inc. a funder of educational, cultural and civic projects.
She has been devoted to equity and justice initiatives since her time as Board Chair at Far Hills Country Day School. She was subsequently elected to the board of the National Association of Independent Schools where she served on the Governance and Equity and Justice Committees; was a member of the Call to Action think tank on diversity initiatives; and assisted in planning several NAIS People of Color Conferences. Passionate about education, she served 19 years as a trustee of The Lawrenceville School, and was the recipient of the School’s 2013 Art Hailand Award for Distinguished Service by a non- alumnus. Judith was elected to the Board of Oliver Scholars in 2003, and served as Board Chair from 2006 to 2012. She was elected a Life Trustee in 2015.

Judith is also devoted to music. She is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Opera and a trustee of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation.

Life Trustee

George D. Creppy ’93

George D. Creppy is a Communications Executive in Corporate Communications for the Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) business at Bank of America; he is also a member of the communications leadership team.

As the primary communications executive for (Merrill Lynch Wealth Management), George is responsible for defining and implementing a disciplined strategy to help drive business performance through the development of proactive external and internal communications.

Life Trustee

Victoria Goldman

Victoria Goldman, a journalist specializing in education, is the author of three guide books on private schools: The Manhattan Family Guide to Private Schools, The Manhattan Directory to Private Nursery Schools and The Los Angeles Guide to Private Schools. Victoria is an educational consultant at Education First and she contributes to the Education Life supplement of The New York Times. Victoria lives in Manhattan.

Life Trustee

Paul S. Gottlieb

Paul S. Gottlieb, Esq. has been on the Board of Trustees of Oliver Scholars for two decades. He is a past Vice-President and Treasurer at Oliver.

For most of his career, Paul has worked on Wall Street where he was associated with several major financial service firms as well as the New York Stock Exchange. His most recent firm was Merrill Lynch, where he was an Associate General Counsel and headed the investment management legal group in the Office of General Counsel. He was a frequent lecturer on securities industry topics and has testified before Congress on pending legislation. He has also led numerous industry initiatives relating to investment management and financial planning. Paul is currently serving as counsel to Hunter College in New York City.

Paul is a graduate of Brown University and New York University School of Law. He is an enthusiastic hiker, a devoted grandfather, and a passionate believer in the Oliver Scholars mission.

Life Trustee

Leita Hamill

Leita Hamill is a retired member of the English Faculty at The Lawrenceville School, where she taught primarily the eleventh and twelfth grades, specializing in Chaucer, Postmodern Fiction, and Poetry. She served as a trustee of Vermont Academy before joining the board of Lawrenceville upon her retirement in 2004 after 30 years of teaching. She is also a trustee of The Cape Eleuthera Island School and The Ausable Club Preservation Foundation. Mrs Hamill resides with her husband in Princeton, NJ, and is the mother of three grown children. “My commitment to Oliver derives from the experience of teaching Oliver Scholars at Lawrenceville, who were all outstanding students, who enlivened classroom discussion and were leaders on campus. Serving on Oliver’s board is my chance to give back to the organization that sent me such talent to teach, making my professional life even more rich.”

Life Trustee

Sharon A. Korsgaard Kalita

Sharon Korsgaard Kalita is the co-founder, along with her daughter, Alexandra Korsgaard Kalita, of Common Bond Design. Common Bond Design, an interior design business based in Brooklyn and New York City.

Sharon is proud to have been involved with Oliver for over 10 years, and is a Life Trustee. Educational opportunities have made a huge difference in her life and she wants to help an organization with a proven track record of making a difference in the lives of underserved students and their families.

Life Trustee

Marcus B. Mabry

Marcus Mabry is Senior Director of Mobile Programming at CNN. Prior to joining CNN, Marcus was the Editor at Large of Twitter Moments, the Editor at Large for The New York Times, and a former foreign correspondent in Europe and Africa for Newsweek. Mabry is the winner of numerous journalism prizes and was the 1999-2000 Edward R. Murrow Press Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

He is the author of Twice As Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power and the memoir White Bucks and Black-eyed Peas: Coming of Age Black in White America.

A native of Trenton, N.J., Mabry is a trustee of The Lawrenceville School, the president-designate of the Overseas Press Club, and a member of the Membership Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mabry graduated from Lawrenceville in 1985 and from Stanford University in 1989 with degrees in English and French literatures and International Relations and an advanced degree in English. He also studied at the Sorbonne and the Institut des Etudes Politiques de Paris.

Life Trustee

Socrates Nicholas

Socrates Nicholas was a Founding Partner of Nicholas Research Associates International Inc. Founded in 1969, Nicholas Research Associates is a qualitative market research company servicing Fortune 500 companies, as well as the arts. Socrates was a patron of the ACLU and the NYCLU from 1985 to 1996, and served as an Advisory Board Member at the Metropolitan Opera from 1987 until 2012. Socrates was  a member of The 1754 Society at Columbia University, where he also served on the Board from 1987 until 1992.

Life Trustee

Donn H. O’Brien

Donn's business background has been primarily focused in broadcasting and communications. He was with CBS for 29 years with positions including Vice President of Programming, CBS Sports; Vice President of Standards and Practices, CBS Television Network; Controller, CBS Television Network; and Controller, CBS News. He was Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration for MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. His independent television production experience includes Executive Producer and co-writer of a two-hour Metropolitan Life Insurance documentary, The National AIDS Awareness Test, which aired nationally on network television, and producer of five A&E Biography programs.

A former elected Councilman and Police Commissioner of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and President of the Glen Ridge Community Fund, Donn is a founding Director and past Chairman of the Board of Oliver Scholars. A graduate of New York University, Donn is a veteran of the United States Marines. Married to Nan O'Brien for 60 years, the O'Briens live by the ocean on Long Beach Island, New Jersey.