November 10, 2011
To: The Cooper Union Community
From: Mark Epstein, Chair, Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees, at its November 8 meeting, elected Francois de Menil to the position of Vice Chair of the Board. A 1987 graduate of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, Mr. de Menil has served on the Board twice — from 1993 to 2000 and from 2005 to the present — and been a member of a number of committees, including the Executive Committee, Finance and Business Affairs and the Strategic Planning Committee among others. Mr. de Menil, chair of the Board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee since 2009, also chaired the Presidential Search Committee for the institution’s 12th President, Jamshed Bharucha.
A New York based architect and principal of Francois de Menil, Architect, PC, he has won local, state and national recognition from the AIA, as well as the Texas Society of Architects. His studio, since 1991, has provided architectural and design services for a variety of institutional, commercial, residential and retail clients. His work has been prominently featured in numerous design magazines, exhibitions and books.
Prior to attending The Cooper Union, Mr. de Menil was a documentary filmmaker, directing the award winning film North Star on the artist Mark de Suvero as well as studies of other artists.
The Board is extremely grateful for his dedication and service to The Cooper Union and looks forward to working closely with him in his new position as Vice Chair.