A new name proposed for Paul Smith’s College

In recognition of two decades of volunteer leadership and unprecedented financial support from philanthropists Joan and Sanford Weill, the Board of Trustees of Paul Smith’s College announced today that it is seeking approval from the New York State Board of Regents and the New York State court to add Joan Weill’s name alongside that of the founding family, creating Joan Weill-Paul Smith’s College.

Should the naming honor be approved, the Weills have pledged a $20 million gift to transform the financial future of the private, four-year college and allow it to introduce its blend of traditional and experiential learning to a far broader array of prospective students and faculty worldwide.

Weill has been one of the most influential volunteer leaders in the college’s 80-year history, serving on the Board of Trustees for 19 years, including five as chair (2005-2010). As a board member, she spearheaded the conversion of Paul Smith’s to a four-year institution, the only such institution in New York’s Adirondack Park. She is an emeritus trustee today and remains active in college fundraising.

Over the last 20 years, Weill and her husband, the retired chairman and CEO of CitiGroup, have given Paul Smith’s nearly $10 million and have helped the college raise almost $30 million from other donors.

“Eighty years ago, this proud institution rose from the forests of the Adirondacks through the leadership and generosity of a family who not only valued education, but wanted to make it available to all who seek it,” said E. Phillip Saunders, chairman of the board. “Over the past 20 years, this tradition of distinguished leadership and service has been embraced and carried on by yet another family. Our Board of Trustees thinks it only fitting that the names of the two most important families in the history of the college — the Smiths and the Weills — should be forever linked to the school and the region they love.”

Cathy S. Dove, president of Paul Smith’s college, said: “Joan Weill’s greatest gift to us has been her spirit, her transformative leadership, her confidence and her determination that the opportunities offered at this college through our innovative blend of experiential and traditional education should be made available to as many students as possible. Though separated by decades, the Smith and Weill families’ unique leadership and service have been pivotal for this institution. As visionaries, they challenged us to grow, modernize and expand our programs, services and facilities, and broaden our reach. The Smith family guided our early years; in many ways, Mrs. Weill is a founder of this college in the modern era.”

Over the past 20 years, Weill spearheaded fundraising efforts that resulted in a new campus library and a refurbished and remodeled student center, as well as the creation of two endowed scholarships. The Weills have endowed a broad range of initiatives, including programs to introduce prospective students and faculty nationwide to the college’s Adirondack setting and its innovative curriculum ranging from environmental science, forestry and sustainability, to hospitality, culinary and restaurant management.

“The Weills’ support positions Paul Smith’s to share our passion for learning, our tradition of academic excellence and our excitement for the future with students across the globe in ways never before possible,” Dove said. “Their gift will play a critically important role in our future as we navigate the fiscal challenges so common to academic institutions today, while the prominence and respect of the Weill name will help to elevate our college’s profile around the world and open doors to new opportunities for growth and academic achievement.”

Weill expressed optimism for the future of the college and deep reverence for its heritage. “There are so many exciting things happening here, and so much more that can be accomplished for the students,” she said. “Over the years I have been fortunate to work with outstanding college faculty and staff, including retired President John Mills. I’m grateful for the outstanding board of trustees led by Chairman Saunders and am excited with the bold vision and dynamic leadership that Dr. Dove has brought to the institution. To be part of such an exciting future while being linked to the great Paul and Lydia Smith is special beyond words.”

Weill, a graduate of Brooklyn College and a former teacher, has been a leader in volunteer service and philanthropy nationally. Her work has benefited a wide range of arts, education and health organizations. She is chair emeriti of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Foundation, chair of the Women’s Health Symposium at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and co-chair of the Advisory Committee of the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall.

The Weills are involved with a number of not for profit organizations, including Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, Carnegie Hall and its Weill Music Institute, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, National Academy Foundation, Weill Hall and the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, University of California – San Francisco, University of California – Davis, Lang Lang International Music Foundation, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel. Joan and Sanford Weill received the 2009 Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy Award in recognition of their philanthropic efforts, and in 2012 Sanford Weill was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and in 2015 received an honorary doctorate from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology.

ABOUT PAUL SMITH’S COLLEGE

At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. Paul Smith’s, which was founded in 1946, is the only bachelor’s degree-granting institution of higher education in the Adirondacks. Our programs – in fields including hospitality, culinary arts, forestry, natural resources, entrepreneurship and the sciences – draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. For more information: web.paulsmiths.edu.