David P. Marks '69, '71 – West Hartford, Conn.

I have been deeply involved and elected to almost every critical Board or Committee at UConn since 1973. During this period, I have seen the campus, the University, the faculty and the student body evolve from just another public university into the premiere public university in New England and one of the Top 25 public universities in the country.

I believe my involvement has played an important role in that evolution. As a lifelong Connecticut resident, I come from humble beginnings, attending Weaver Public High School in Hartford, Conn. I entered UConn in 1967 as a student studying chemistry under the direction and tutelage of Honors Chair Dr. John Tanaka, and graduated with a BA in 1969 in Chemistry and Physics. I then attained my MBA at UConn in 1971.

In 1973, former men's basketball coach Donald "Dee" Rowe asked me to volunteer and mentor some of the UConn men's basketball team. From that experience, I felt it was my duty and obligation to get involved and give back to the University that gave me my direction in life and start in my career. As the Alumni Trustee, it would be a distinct honor and privilege to represent all Alumni as their Trustee.

I have been on the Board of the Alumni Association, its Gavel Society and its Alumni Council. I was President of the UConn Alumni Association during the Alumni House building phase, and also elected to serve on the following UConn Boards/Committees: Business School Board of Overseers, The UConn Football Division I-A Committee, The Athletic Advisory Board, The UConn Foundation (three terms) including Chairman of the Investment Committee (increasing the endowment almost 70% from 1994-1996), The University of Connecticut Health Center Board of Trustees (including Chairman of the Finance Committee), The Presidential search Committee and the UConn 2000 Campaign Committee. I am now back on the UConn Foundation Board and also back on its Investment Committee. I have been honored with the Alumni Service award, The Business School Mentor of the Year award and elected to the Business School Hall of Fame and was the Convocation speaker for the MBA program in 1989.

Being active at UConn is more than just serving. It is a commitment for life and a way to add value to students, faculty and to the social atmosphere around the multiple campuses. While we revolve around Storrs, we are multiple campuses with multiple needs across the entire state and nation with many local chapters heavily involved in their geographic regions. Therefore, as Alumni Trustee, I feel that communications to all alumni, not just the Storrs area, is a way to keep all alumni informed and connected no matter where they reside.

It is also important, I believe, to give back to the University that needs not only continued public support but also support from alumni and others in a financial way, particularly in today's difficult economic times. The State's budget deficit will impact the University for many years and the cutbacks have already signaled by the administration. Being a nationally recognized business leader and having 37 years of experience in business, I believe I can add insights and international contacts and relationships to the Board to help the University get through these difficult times and come out of this economic crisis stronger and more focused.

My family has also made significant financial contributions over the years to the University, doing our part to keep the University, its endowment, its academics and athletic programs strong. Since 1973, we have been major donors to the Business School, Liberal Arts and Athletics at UConn. We established one of the first endowed scholarships in women's basketball, and I was honored to join Geno Auriemma and the women's basketball team on its first visit to the White House in 1995 after our first women's National Championship.

Along with Barri Marks, I funded an Outreach program in the School of Fine Arts to bring music, dance and theater to areas of Connecticut and New York that did not have the chance to visit the campus. We have funded the non-scholarship golf program for the last five years and were honored this spring with the naming of the David P. Marks and Dr. Ann M. Sagalyn Golf Practice and Teaching Facility behind the top seats in Gampel Pavilion. We also have donated a room in the Alumni Center during its construction, were major donors to the Leslie Savitsky Wolfson Alumni Honorarium and also were major donors to the President Phil Austin Endowed Scholarship.

Ray and Carole Neag have been the major benefactors at UConn for the past 15 years. Ray was re-introduced back to UConn in a meeting I had with him in Philadelphia in the early 1990s. They have established, among other things, the Neag School of Education, The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at the UConn Health center and other contributions to academia, the Health Center and athletics.

Ray Neag states: "I feel that David Marks, based on his background, business experience and involvement over the past 30 years in many high level facets of UConn, is the best candidate to be the new UConn Alumni Trustee."

Please see the reasons I feel I would be a strong an active Alumni Trustee, including my biography, the UConn Boards and Committees I have been elected to serve on, the contributions we have made to UConn, and the honors and recognition that was granted me. Access that information by clicking on my Web site: DavidPMarks.com. I am sincerely and deeply committed to enhancing and preserving the total UConn experience for students, faculty, parents, alumni and administrators, all of whom are part of the great UConn family.

Please vote when your ballot arrives and again, I would be greatly honored to be YOUR Alumni Trustee. "Go Huskies!"