Ringling Museum Elects Five New Members to the Board of Directors

SARASOTA, Fla.—Dec. 4, 2008— Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell announced the appointment of five new members to The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Board of Directors.  The board members will serve a four-year term from 2008-2012 and will have the opportunity for reappointment in 2012.

The new board members are as follows:

• Priscilla M. Greenfield is a native of Dade County. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences. She later served as regional director for Lord & Taylor and worked for the Center for the Fine Arts in Miami. Mrs. Greenfield has dedicated much of her time to serving her community by being active in various organizations and associations. She is a former member of Art in the Public Places, the Historical Society of Southern Florida and a former board member of the Bass Museum. Currently, she is a member of Beaux Arts of the Lowe Museum and Dade Heritage Trust and was appointed to the City of Miami Health Services Board.

 

• H. Talbot Sandy D’Alemberte is President Emeritus and Professor of Law at Florida State University. He is a member of the American Law Institute, he also has served as President of the American Judicature Society (1982-84), practiced law for several years with Steel Hector & Davis in Miami, and was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1966-1972. He has won numerous national awards for his contributions to the profession, including the 2001 Wickersham Award given by the Friends of the Law Library of Congress, the 2001 Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, the 1998 ABA Section of Legal Education Robert J. Kutak Award, the 1998 ABA World Order Under Law Award, the 1996 American Judicature Society's Justice Award, the 1996 National Council of Jewish Women's Hannah G. Soloman Award, the 1986 National Sigma Delta Chi First Amendment Award, and an American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences "Emmy" in 1985 for his work in open government. He earned B.A. degree from University of the South in Sewanee, TN, J.D. degree from University of Florida and holds honorary degrees from Cleveland State University, Hofstra University, Nova Southeastern University, Stetson University, University of the South (Sewanee), University of Bridgeport, University of Denver, University of the West Indies, and Open University of Great Britain.

 

• Patrick J. Hennigan, PhD has been a higher education finance specialist for the past 25 years. He retired in 2006 as managing director and co-head of Morgan Stanley’s higher education investment banking group. He earned a Ph.D. and MPA from Syracuse University and he served as a professor in the School of International & Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is a former member of the Advisory Board of Maxwell School at Syracuse University and has recently been appointed a member of the New College of Florida Board of Trustees.

 

• Samuel L. “Bo” Perry Jr. is a founding principal of CapTrust, a privately held independent investment consulting practice headquartered in Tampa. He earned an MBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1972 and has an undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Deland. He was a founding board member of the Tampa Bay Committee for the Arts, was on the Board of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation and is a graduate of Leadership Tampa. He is currently on the Professional Advisory Committee of the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation and formerly on the Advisory Committee of the All Children’s Hospital Foundation.

 

• Clifford L. Walters, III is a Principal at the law firm of Blalock, Walters, Held & Johnson in Bradenton, Florida. Cliff concentrates on Business counseling and planning, complex real estate transactions, commercial law, and strategic estate planning. He graduated from Washington and Lee University B.A. and J.D. Cum Laude. He is past president of the Manatee County Bar Association and a member of the Florida Bar. He is also past president of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce; member of Manatee United Way, Economic Development Council of Manatee, Board of Trustees University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee Campus. He received the Leadership Manatee “Distinguished Leadership Award 2000” and the Ed. H. Price Humanitarian Award.  

The 2008-2009 Ringling Board of Directors Officers are:

• Frank J. "Sandy" Rief III, Chair 
• Barbara J. Siemer, Vice Chair 
• Robert E. Christopher, Treasurer 
• Sara. A. Bagley, Secretary

The new members were recommended to the Board at the June 20 Board of Directors Meeting and attended their first meeting on October 24.  Under the Florida law creating the Ringling Board, FSU’s president may appoint up to 31 members of which one-third must be from Sarasota or Manatee counties.  The next Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23, 2009  in the Education/Conservation Building at the Ringling Estate.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, in its affiliation with Florida State University, is one of the largest museum/university complex in the nation.  It preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling, educating and enabling a large and diverse audience to experience and take delight in a world-renowned collection of fine art; Cà d’Zan, the Ringling historic mansion; the Circus Museum; the Tibbals Learning Center, the Original Asolo Theater; and historic architecture, courtyard, gardens and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.  

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