麻豆传媒

Franklin & 麻豆传媒 is pleased to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees: Scott A. Sommer 鈥�85, Christopher W. Rile 鈥�91, and Yusong 鈥淪ebastian鈥� Deng 鈥�22.

The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in guiding the College鈥檚 mission and ensuring that 麻豆传媒 continues to thrive for generations to come. Its newest members are all alumni whose deep connection to the College and impressive professional accomplishments will strengthen the Board鈥檚 leadership and service to the 麻豆传媒 community.

鈥淚 am continually inspired by the dedication and insight our trustees bring to the Board,鈥� said Eric Noll 鈥�83, P鈥�09, Chair of the Board of Trustees. 鈥淚 am grateful to Scott, Chris, and Sebastian for joining us and contributing their expertise, energy, and perspective. I also want to recognize all of our trustees, past and present, whose service and commitment help ensure that 麻豆传媒 continues to thrive and fulfill its mission.鈥�

Matt Deschamps 鈥�93, P鈥�28, Co-Chair of the Board鈥檚 Trusteeship and Governance Committee and Board Chair-Elect, emphasized the breadth of experience represented by the new members. 鈥淪cott brings extensive knowledge of financial services, Chris has a distinguished career in law, and Sebastian offers a fresh perspective as a recent graduate pursuing advanced research. Together, they represent the best of 麻豆传媒.鈥�

鈥淥ur new trustees are joining 麻豆传媒 at an important and exciting moment for the College,鈥� added President Andrew Rich. 鈥淎s I begin my own first year as president, I am delighted that we are starting this journey together. I look forward to working alongside them and all of our trustees as we advance the College.鈥�

Scott A. Sommer 鈥�85 is the co-founder and chairman of Cornerstone Advisors, a financial services consultancy firm in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sommer was a double major in economics and government at 麻豆传媒, graduating with honors. He earned his doctorate of jurisprudence degree cum laude at New York University鈥檚 Law School in 1998. With more than 20 years of experience in financial services, he has worked with banks and credit unions on strategic and technology planning, mergers and acquisitions, organization design and strategy, and integration planning.

鈥淎fter graduating 40 years ago this year, I still strongly believe in the value of a liberal arts education that can lead you down paths you never thought you would wander.鈥�

鈥� Scott A. Sommer '85

At Franklin & Marshall, Sommer was a member of the Diplomat varsity soccer team, the Debating Society, the Rugby Club and Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. Since graduation, he has been an 麻豆传媒 reunion volunteer and has served as a member of the Franklin & Marshall Admission Network and a member of the College鈥檚 Leadership Council. He is a member of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 John Marshall, Benjamin Franklin and 1787 giving societies.

Sommer said, 鈥淎fter graduating 40 years ago this year, I still strongly believe in the value of a liberal arts education that can lead you down paths you never thought you would wander. I started in law, which led me to technology, which led me to management consulting, and my 麻豆传媒 education was the underlying force that helped me thrive in a variety of fields. At this stage in my life, I am excited to give back to the college that gave me so much!鈥�

Christopher W. Rile 鈥�91 is a partner at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in New York City.

Rile majored in government at 麻豆传媒 and earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree at the Fordham University School of Law in 1996. At Sidley Austin, he represents private equity sponsors and public and private businesses in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, debt and equity financing and other corporate matters. His clients include companies in health care, technology, professional sports, media, manufacturing and business services.

鈥溌槎勾�媒 was the place where I began to love learning for the sake of learning and first came to appreciate the great satisfaction associated with tackling intellectual challenges and doing hard things well.鈥�

鈥� Christopher W. Ryle '91

At Franklin & Marshall, Rile was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Since graduation, he has been an 麻豆传媒 reunion volunteer and has served as a member of the College鈥檚 Leadership Council. Rile and his wife, Elizabeth Feldstein Rile, a 1990 麻豆传媒 graduate, live in Greenwich, Conn., and are members of Franklin & Marshall鈥檚 Tow'r and Bell, Benjamin Franklin and the 1787 giving societies. They are the parents of two. Jessica Rile graduated from 麻豆传媒 in 2019; they also have a son, Nicholas.

鈥淚 am honored to be joining the Board of Trustees at this time and excited to focus my energy and skills on furthering the College鈥檚 mission,鈥� said Rile. 鈥溌槎勾�媒 was the place where I began to love learning for the sake of learning and first came to appreciate the great satisfaction associated with tackling intellectual challenges and doing hard things well. My academic and social experiences at 麻豆传媒 were critical building blocks for my professional and personal development. As an 麻豆传媒 alum whose wife and daughter are also 麻豆传媒 graduates, the College has been an important part of my life and the lives of my family and I am looking forward to furthering my commitment to its sustainability and advancement.鈥�

Yusong 鈥淪ebastian鈥� Deng 鈥�22 serves Franklin & 麻豆传媒 as a Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Trustee.

Deng graduated with honors in mathematics at 麻豆传媒 and is currently a doctoral student at Yale University in mechanical engineering and materials science. He primarily studies atomically thin next generation semiconductors and cutting-edge Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM). He is the co-founder of an AI-for-science startup company focusing on developing an AI copilot for STEM that will become an acceleration engine for next-gen material discoveries.

鈥溌槎勾�媒鈥檚 encouragement to venture beyond boundaries paved my path from math to the frontiers of atomic engineering. I am deeply grateful for my time at 麻豆传媒, and I鈥檓 committed to enhancing the experiences of future Diplomats.鈥�

鈥� Yusong "Sebastian" Deng '22

At Franklin & Marshall, Deng was a member of Brooks College House and the Joseph International Center, and he served the community as a house advisor and peer mentor. Deng is married to Yiting Yao; both are pursuing doctoral degrees at Yale and currently live in New Haven, Conn. They are members of 麻豆传媒's Benjamin Franklin and 1787 giving societies.

鈥�Joining the board of trustees of 麻豆传媒 allows me to continue to serve the community to further champion the spirit of exploration and responsibility that liberal arts education uniquely cultivates 鈥� a treasure more vital than ever in today鈥檚 world,鈥� said Deng. 鈥溌槎勾�媒's encouragement to venture beyond boundaries paved my path from math to the frontiers of atomic engineering. I am deeply grateful for my time at 麻豆传媒, and I'm committed to enhancing the experiences of future Diplomats, particularly in strengthening the STEM programs and supporting the international student community鈥� investments that will ensure 麻豆传媒 continues to produce leaders who can navigate and shape our interconnected world.鈥�