Marla Grossman ’90 was recently confirmed as the new chair of the Yale Alumni Fund Board of Directors. Grossman, the former vice chair, is a longtime board member and executive committee member. She has chaired the fund’s Mentorship Task Force and served on the Leadership Giving Council. As board chair, Grossman will serve for a two-year term ending June 30, 2022.
“For over a decade, Marla’s wisdom, ideas, and insights have enriched our work in the Alumni Fund in countless ways,” says Jocelyn Kane, the fund’s managing director. “She embodies the spirit and service that is synonymous with Yale alumni everywhere. With Marla at the helm, we will continue to preserve the university’s time-honored tradition of giving back while developing new methods of outreach and areas of strength. It’s exciting to begin this new chapter together.”
Grossman is a highly engaged volunteer and supporter of Yale. In addition to her work with the board, she has served as chair of agents for the Class of 1990 since 2008 and co-chair since 2015. She was vice chair of her 25th Reunion Gift Committee, a member of her 30th and 20th Reunion Gift Committees, and Trumbull College captain of her 20th and 15th reunions. Grossman also works to strengthen the Yale community in Washington, DC, and served on the board of directors for the Yale Club there from 2008 until 2014.
As a partner at the federal lobbying firm the American Continental Group, Grossman guides her clients on strategic public policy planning and representation before the White House, US federal agencies, and Congress. Her areas of focus include intellectual property, technology, competition, and trade policy.
At Yale, Grossman studied English, played tennis, and wrote for the Yale Herald. She was awarded the John Spangler Nicholas Prize in Trumbull College for “outstanding character and leadership” and was selected as the Trumbull College banner bearer for commencement in recognition of her academic achievements. Grossman went on to earn her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1993.
As the Yale Alumni Fund board chair, Grossman will lead more than 2,300 Alumni Fund volunteers. Among her duties, she will oversee meetings of the Alumni Fund Board of Directors, convene the executive committee, and collaborate with Kane and the Alumni Fund staff to help set the strategy for fundraising goals and priorities. Grossman will also represent the Alumni Fund in meetings of the University Council and the Board of Trustees Committee on Development & Alumni Affairs.
“The Alumni Fund strives to ensure that Yale students have access to unparalleled opportunities and a world-class education,” reflects Grossman. “I’m proud to be part of this team and to work alongside Jocelyn, my fellow board members, and our remarkable volunteers as a means of giving back to the institution that gave me so much. The current global pandemic has brought into sharp focus the importance of our work and commitment to student excellence. I’m honored to lead some of the most dedicated individuals I know in rallying the Alumni Fund community to help our students get through this pandemic and back to a Yale community that is stronger than ever.”