About

STEPHEN J. FRIEDMAN, PRESIDENT

Executive coach and consultant, Steve Friedman is known for his quiet passion for positive change and keen intellect, which compliment his proven record as an effective leader in law, business and government (with the Treasury and as an SEC Commissioner). He has also served as a Chair and Trustee of a wide variety of nonprofits and most recently as a dean and university president.

Prior to his tenure as the President of Pace University from 2007-2017, Steve served as the Dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. His legal and business expertise centers on securities markets, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and a broad range of financial institutions.

In 2017 Steve founded Open Mind Associates, where he now advises and coaches senior executives and other leaders at companies, American and international universities and other nonprofits, as well as providing effective strategy and leadership support for those in transition through facilitative coaching. From aiding those facing challenges to those looking to grow into new roles, his coaching centers on reframing habits and traditional management styles to support clients in taking bolder steps, prioritizing institutional goals and achieving personal goals.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President Emeritus

Pace University

Dean

Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University

Senior Partner & Co-Chair

Corporate Department, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States

Executive Vice President & General Counsel

The E.F. Hutton Group, Inc.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Securities and Exchange Commission

Commissioner

Department of the Treasury

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Capital Markets Policy

Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration

Special Assistant to the Maritime Administrator

United States Supreme Court

Law Clerk for Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.

EDUCATION

Harvard Law School, J.D., 1962

Princeton University, A.B., 1959

Glasgow-Caledonian University, Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2014

Pace University, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, 2017

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NONPROFIT AFFILIATIONS

EDUCATION

President, Pace University

Dean, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University

Director, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu)

Chairman and Trustee, Asian University for Women Support Foundation

President and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Trustee, Practising Law Institute

(continuing legal education)

Chairman and Founder, NYC Department of Education Project of New York

Appleseed Foundation

Member, Board of Overseers, Brandeis University Program in International

Economics and Finance (now the Brandeis School of Business)

PERFORMING ARTS

Chairman and Trustee, American Ballet Theatre

HEALTH CARE

Trustee, New York Downtown Hospital

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Chairman and Trustee, Overseas Development Council

MUSEUM

Vice Chairman and Director, NYC Board of the Museum of the

American Indian (Smithsonian Institution)

ENVIRONMENT

Trustee, Beacon Institute

SOCIAL SERVICES

Trustee, United Way of New York City

SECURITIES EXCHANGES

Director, NASD

Director, CBOE

Director, NYSE Regulation

LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Director, Alliance for Downtown New York

Director, Westchester County Association

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