DEBRA S. KNEZ

 

Debra Knez is a trustee of the Knez Family Charitable Foundation and The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation. Founded in 2004, The Knez Family Foundation supports educational and children's causes in the greater Boston area as well as Vermont. In 2007 the Knez Foundation established two three-year term Junior Faculty Professorships in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts. This support helps Tufts to attract and keep the best young faculty members by supplementing their research funding at the outset of their careers...a key goal of the Beyond Boundaries Campaign.

The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, established by Debra's Parents, Richard and Susan, supports health, education and the arts. The foundation is especially interested in organizations that provide opportunities for economically disadvantaged populations and places special emphasis on children and youth.

Debra has been involved with the Tufts Center for Children and has been active with The Tufts Alumni Admissions Program (TAAP). She has actively served on the Meadowbrook School Board, the Children's Museum Board, the United Way Board and the BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) board in Boston. Her husband Brian, former President and co-CEO of Harcourt General, is a managing partner and co-founder of Castanea Partners, a private equity investment firm. Their daughter Jessica, 21, is a member of Tufts Class of 2009, and their son Andrew, 18, is a freshman at Williams College. Debra and Brian are also generous supporters of the Tufts Fund as members of the Trustees' Circle.

Debra was elected to the Board in 2007 and currently serves on the Committee for University Advancement.

Last updated: May 9, 2008