The New York University College of Arts and Science Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) consists of alumni, parents, and friends selected to provide input and guidance for the College of Arts and Science at New York University. The DAC supports the Dean of the College in addressing the complex challenges of higher education that CAS students face today; garnering the resources needed for the College to improve its excellence and diversity; and setting the strategic priorities for the College’s future success. Commitment by DAC members can be expressed in a number of ways including volunteer participation and philanthropy.
Dean’s Advisory Council
NICOLE MEYER CO-CHAIR
Nicole attended the College of Arts and Science and earned a B.A. degree in Architecture and Urban Design with a double minor in Studio Art and Art History. Upon graduation, she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and received the NYU Faculty Award for Architecture and Urban Design. Nicole received her master’s in Urban Planning from NYU's Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Meyer is Principal in her family’s business, Kushner, where she focuses on management and development of residential and commercial portfolios.
Rafael Polanco CO-CHAIR
Rafael Polanco is a Managing Director at Evercore, a leading global independent investment bank, in the firm's mergers and acquisitions practice. Currently, Rafael focuses most of his time on advising clients in the alternative asset management industry. Prior to joining Evercore, Rafael worked in the investment banking division at Credit Suisse First Boston, focusing on mergers and acquisitions in the technology industry. Rafael received a B.S. in Biology and a B.E. in Environmental Engineering from the Dual Degree Program in Science and Engineering at CAS with Stevens Institute of Technology. Rafael is a native New Yorker; raised in Queens, he currently lives in the East Village.
Steven Beckman
Steven Beckman graduated from the College of Arts and Science with a BA in History and minor concentrations in Economics and Cinema Studies. Beckman manages Content Partnerships at YouTube, where he focuses on creator representation and film acquisitions.
Marc Bell
Marc H. Bell is founder of Marc Bell Capital, an investment and venture capital firm and Co-Founder of Armour Residential REIT and Chairman and Co-Founder of Terran Orbital. As a serial entrepreneur he follows his passions throughout his career. A two-time Tony Award winning producer, Marc’s credits include Jersey Boys, August: Osage County, Rock of Ages, Waitress, and most recently Head Over Heels in addition to several full-length motion pictures.
Howard Fluhr
Howard Fluhr is Chairman Emeritus of The Segal Group, having previously served as President and CEO (1994 – 2005) and Chairman (2006 - 2016). He consults on topics including total compensation, human resource strategies, employee benefits and board governance and serves on several public policy boards. Howard earned an NYU bachelor's degree cum laude in mathematics and philosophy. He and his wife Margaret are devoted patrons of many arts organizations. Margaret, having been in the doctoral program, served on the School of Social Work DAC.
Jeffrey Gould
Jeffrey S. Gould entered NYU at 16 years old and graduated the College of Arts and Science at 19 in 1979. After obtaining his Juris Doctorate, he joined the family business, Gould Publications/GouldLaw, founded by his parents, Norman and Jeanette, that was eventually sold to LexisNexis. Jeffrey currently serves as the co-founder and Chairman of WaxxTech, a company specializing in patented sound sourcing technology.
James Hahn
James Hahn is President of Asia Alpha (www.AsiaAlpha.com), a NY based single Family Office specializing in Alternative Asset Fund of Funds. James began on Wall Street as a UBS Corporate Intern in 1986, and in 1992, he managed one of Asia’s first hedge funds based in Hong Kong. James is a Limited Partner investor in alternative asset funds including Hedge, Global Distressed Debt, Real Estate, and Venture Capital (AI, Life Science & Medical Devices, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Semiconductor, and Fintech.
Rikki Kaplan
After graduating from NYU’s Washington Square College with a B.A. in English, Rikki migrated to Wall Street. After working at several firms, she left finance and raised three children, two of whom are also NYU graduates. She is involved with a number of charitable organizations and serves on the board of the New York Center for Law and Justice.
Kerri B. Levine
A CAS graduate, Kerri Berson Levine is a Vice President at The Fidelco Realty Group and a dedicated philanthropist. Kerri focuses on a wide-range of properties in urban areas throughout the tri-state area. While partaking in Fidelco's success developing distinct destinations in overlooked inner-city neighborhoods, Kerri spearheads the business’s commercial leasing (securing tenants such as Chipotle, Krauszers, FastSigns, Redd's Beirgarten, PureBarre, Leadership Newark, and more), restaurant marketing, and media initiatives.
Ariel Ostad
Ariel Ostad is a board certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon as well as a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. He graduated magna cum laude from Washington Square College with a B.A. and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1991, he received his M.D. from the NYU School of Medicine. After an internship at Harvard Medical School and completing his residency in Dermatology at NYU Medical Center in 1995, Dr. Ostad completed a fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery, laser and dermatologic surgery at UCLA and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at NYU Medical Center.
Kevin Prussia
Kevin Prussia, a partner at WilmerHale in Boston, Massachusetts, is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer with experience across every aspect of trial and appellate practice, including bench and jury federal trials, International Trade Commission investigations, Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, and appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. Mr. Prussia serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the ACLU of Massachusetts. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Prussia was on the part-time faculty at Boston University School of Law, where he taught a seminar in the Legal Writing Program. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Prussia was an assistant director of admissions for New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Mamak Shahbazi
Mamak Shahbazi is the Principal, Director, and Global Head of Marketing and Client Service at Colchester Global Investors. Mamak began her career in the field of investments in 1983. Her previous position was Director, Institutional Marketing at the hedge fund firm, Zweig-DiMenna Associates. She spent more than eight years at Delaware International Advisors as Head of Global Bond Marketing and more than eight years at CS First Boston as Vice President, Fixed Income Investments.
Karen Silvera
Karen Silvera was born in New York City but raised in Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, Brazil, graduating from NYU’s Washington Square College with a B.A. in Journalism. After college, Karen worked as an associate editor in the corporate communications department of Marsh and McLennan and wrote for “Commercial Property News,” a Gralla publication. Karen has been active in a number of not-for-profit organizations including Chairing the Board of Trustees of Dwight-Englewood School; most recently, she worked full-time leading all the School’s development efforts, including a $30 million capital campaign.