SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The board of trustees of Syracuse University has unanimously elected Kathleen Walters as its next chairperson, the first woman to hold the position.
She currently serves as vice chair of Syracuse’s board of trustees, the university said in a news release issued Monday.
Walters, who graduated from Syracuse in 1973, will succeed current board chair Steve Barnes, whose term ends in May 2019.
About Walters
Walters currently serves as executive VP of Atlanta, Georgia–based Georgia-Pacific LLC (GP) and group president of its consumer-products group. Georgia-Pacific is one of the largest retail and commercial tissue and tabletop businesses in North America, spanning more than 40 operating facilities and employing 15,000 people.
She has held her roles with Georgia-Pacific since 2007, and previously held other executive positions at the company. Prior to joining GP in 2004, Walters held a number of key leadership positions in Europe and the U.S. for Scott Paper Co. and its parent company, Irving, Texas–based Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB). She also served as CEO of SAPPI Fine Paper North America.
“Kathy brings a unique perspective, as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of board chair,” Chancellor Syverud said in the release. “She is a strong leader and a tireless advocate for Syracuse University. Kathy will make an excellent chair. I am confident great things will happen under her leadership.”
“Syracuse University is incredibly fortunate to have someone of Kathy’s caliber taking over the leadership of the board of trustees,” Barnes said in the release. “The combination of her strategic and governance experience makes her well positioned to be our next chair.”
Walters has been “very active in supporting the University” along with her husband, Stanley Walters, who graduated in 1972, per the release. He was a two-year letterman in football at Syracuse University and went on to play in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles, and after retiring was a radio color commentator.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Photo credit: Syracuse University news website
