Board of Trustees

Randy A. Daniels Vice Chairman New York, New York

Randy A. Daniels is a member of a real estate investment group that focuses on opportunities in emerging markets around the world, especially in Asia. From April 2001 to September 2005, he served as NYS Secretary of State. In his capacity as Secretary of State, he also held a number of other positions, including Chairman of the New York State Real Estate Board and the New York State 911 Board for wireless emergency calls. He was also a member of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Task Force.

From December 1999 to April 2001, Mr. Daniels was Senior Vice President of Canyon Johnson Urban Fund, L.L.P., a real estate equity fund based in Beverly Hills, CA. From 1995 to 1999 Mr. Daniels served under Governor Pataki as Senior Vice President and Deputy Commissioner of Economic Revitalization at the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC). At ESDC Mr. Daniels managed the Department of Economic Revitalization, where he oversaw the Harlem Community Development Corporation and coordinated New York State's role in the federal Empowerment Zone program and Enterprise Community programs.

In 1997 Governor Pataki nominated Mr. Daniels to the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees. The Governor later named him Vice Chairman of the SUNY Board, where he continues to serve as Chairman of the Investment Committee, Co-Chair of Charter Schools, and is a member of the Executive and Finance Committees.

Before heading ESDC's Department of Economic Revitalization, Mr. Daniels was Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas from 1988-92, Director of Communications for the New York City Council President's Office from 1986-88, and was an adjunct journalism professor at both the City College of New York and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

Mr. Daniels has extensive experience in journalism. He was Managing Director of Jacaranda Nigeria Limited -- a television training program for Nigerian television -- from 1982-84, National Correspondent for CBS News based in New York City from 1980-82, Foreign Correspondent for CBS News in Nairobi, Kenya, from 1977-80, Correspondent for CBS News in Chicago from 1972-1977, and Reporter for WVON Radio in Chicago from 1970-72.

Mr. Daniels holds a bachelor's degree in government and journalism from Southern Illinois University.