Clark University has announced the appointment of Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Nancie Julian and Ronald Shaich to its Board of Trustees. The new trustees, all of whom are Clark alumni, add their expertise and vision to the board’s mission to amplify Clark’s reputation as a transformative force in liberal education and ensure its standing as a destination of choice for academically talented and engaged students.
Board Chair Steven Swain ’89 noted that the new members are uniquely qualified to help shape and drive the board’s strategies in areas reflecting the goals and imperatives for the University, including increased visibility, resource development, and successful educational and career outcomes for graduates.
“We are excited to have people of such impressive accomplishment and clear commitment to Clark University join our board,” Swain said. “Clark is an extraordinary institution that is reinventing liberal education to meet the challenges of a 21st-century economy.
“The addition of Ellen, Nancie and Ron gives us access to their deep professional experience, innovative thinking and informed perspectives about the value of an inspired education. Their contributions will enhance our partnership with President David Angel and our distinguished faculty to build on Clark’s successes and cultivate fresh areas for growth.”
Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick is the former Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the former Chief Global Economist at Ford Motor Company, where she oversaw the economic, financial and automotive industry forecasting used to support business strategy, finance and planning. She previously served as Senior Economist at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh, where she was responsible for U.S. macroeconomic forecasts, Latin America economic outlook, and U.S. fiscal and monetary policy analysis, among others.
Today, Dr. Hughes-Cromwick is a Senior Economist and Associate Director for Social Science and Policy at the University of Michigan Energy Institute. She provides the board with top-level expertise in business, government and academia. Dr. Hughes-Cromwick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a master’s degree in international development (1988) and a Ph.D. in economics (1986) from Clark University.
Nancie Julian is an experienced marketing strategy and design management professional with a history of working with nonprofit and entrepreneurial organizations to use design as a problem-solving discipline for strategic advantage. Currently, Julian contributes her professional skills in service to the nonprofit sector, serving on boards and as Vice Chair of Strategic Planning for Kids in Crisis and Chair of Strategy for Impact Fairfield County. In 2017, she launched the Isabella Julian Forrest Fund for Pediatric Kidney Transplant Research at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Julian was the co-founder and CEO of Nanelle Inc., a specialty food business based in New York City, and worked at the Boston-based firms Hub Mail Advertising, CLSI and EF. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Clark University (1986) and an MBA, with distinction, in design management from the University of Westminster, Harrow School of Business in London.
Ronald Shaich is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of two successful national restaurant brands, Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain. He is widely recognized as a visionary leader who has changed the way America eats by pioneering high-growth, fast-casual restaurant dining. In his tenure at the helm of Panera, the restaurant chain has grown to more than 2,000 bakery-cafes, with more than 100,000 employees and over $5 billion in restaurant sales. As a result, Panera is the best-performing restaurant stock over the last 20 years. He brings to the board his talent for strategic planning, and for finding new pathways to build organizations of value.
Shaich, a 1976 graduate of Clark who also holds an MBA from Harvard, rejoins the board, having served as trustee and chair from 1988 to 2001. In May, the Shaich family made a $5 million gift to support Clark’s leadership in liberal education.
“I welcome the opportunity to work with Nancie, Ellen and Ron, and all the trustees, as we continue to strengthen our position as a leader in the higher education landscape,” President Angel said. “The vision and resolve of our Board of Trustees, in tandem with our talented faculty, students and staff, help us chart a course for growth and drive the Clark mission to be a force for positive change.”
