Governor Appoints New Members to U.Va. Board of Visitors

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has announced the appointment of four members to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors.

The new members – John A. Griffin, Kevin J. Fay and Frank Genovese – bring an impressive breadth and depth of experience in business leadership and strong ties to the University. Vice Rector William H. Goodwin Jr., who previously served on the board in several capacities, was appointed to a new four-year term.

“It is my great pleasure to welcome this distinguished group to the Board of Visitors,” University Rector George Keith Martin said. “Their experience and demonstrated commitment to the University of Virginia will put the University in a strong position to sustain its excellence for this generation and those to follow.”  

President Teresa A. Sullivan also welcomed the new board members.

“I congratulate the new members on their appointment to the Board of Visitors and look forward to working closely with them and the entire board,” Sullivan said. “Their professional backgrounds vary, but all board members are united by a passion for the University of Virginia and the future of higher education. I also express my deep appreciation to board members whose terms have expired.”

Three board members concluded their appointments on June 30: Alan A. Diamonstein, Vincent J. Mastracco Jr. and A. Macdonald Caputo. All three had served the maximum two, four-year terms.

The governor’s appointments:

• John A. Griffin of New York, is president of Blue Ridge Capital, an investment partnership he founded in 1996. Griffin is a member of the McIntire School of Commerce Foundation Board of Trustees and a visiting professor at the University, as well as founding board chair of iMentor. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the McIntire School in 1985 and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
• Kevin J. Fay of McLean, is president of Alcalde & Fay, a government and public affairs consulting firm. Fay earned a bachelor of arts degree, with distinction, from the College of Arts & Sciences in 1977. He earned a law degree in 1981 from American University.
• Frank Genovese of Midlothian, is president of The Rothbury Corporation, a Richmond-area investment company. Genovese previously served as a trustee of the Darden School Foundation, chairman of the Darden School Foundation Building and Finance Committee, and as a visiting lecturer at Darden. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Darden. Genovese also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
• William H. Goodwin Jr. of Richmond, is chairman of the board of CCA Industries Inc. CCA is a holding company whose assets include CCA Financial, Bag Boy Co., Pompanette Inc. and various real estate holdings including the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and Keswick Hall. Goodwin served two terms on the U.Va. board from 1996 to 2004. He was appointed by McDonnell to serve as a nonvoting special adviser to the board in June 2012. In January, the governor appointed Goodwin to complete the term of R.J. Kirk. In May, the Board of Visitors voted unanimously to elect Goodwin to serve a two-year term as vice rector. He holds degrees from Virginia Tech and is a 1966 Darden graduate.