Bob Kerrey
January 1, 2011, Bob Kerrey completed his tenure as seventh President of The New School, a university founded on strong democratic ideals and daring educational practices, an environment that was well suited for his leadership. He also served as New School's President Emeritus from January 1, 2011 to January 31, 2013.
Prior to coming to The New School Bob Kerrey represented Nebraska in the United States Senate. For two terms, Senator Kerrey emphasized the direct connection between citizens and their laws, and made a concerted effort to allow Nebraskans to participate in writing laws that defined the quality and inclusiveness of their health care system, their schools and the safety of their communities. He served on the Senate's Agriculture and Forestry Committee, Senate's Appropriations Committee, Senate's Finance Committee, and last but not least on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence where he worked to restructure our intelligence agencies to improve their capacity to meet the threats faced by our country. Prior to serving in the U.S. Senate Bob Kerrey served a single term as Nebraska's Governor. He established a reputation as a fiscal conservative who regularly crossed political party lines for the good of Nebraska and the Country.
Bob Kerrey served three years in the United States Navy. While in Vietnam, he was wounded, permanently disabled from the injury, and from this injury received a great gift: Sympathy for those who are suffering and an appreciation for the capacity of government to save your life. Before his time in the Navy Bob Kerrey attended the University of Nebraska graduating in January 1966 with a BS degree in pharmacy. He was born in Lincoln and attended public schools there. In 2002 he published a memoir "When I Was A Young Man."
Bob Kerrey is married to Sarah Paley and lives in New York. The couple has a 12-year-old son, Henry, and Mr. Kerrey has two children from his previous marriage, Ben and Lindsey Kerrey, and four grandchildren.
Alejandro Mayorkas
Nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009, Mayorkas heads the administration of the world's largest immigration service. A division of the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS is the federal agency overseeing lawful immigration to the United States.
Before serving in his current post, Mayorkas was a litigation partner in the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, where he represented Fortune 100 companies in high-profile, complex, and sensitive matters throughout the country and the world. He advised boards of directors and top executives, tried cases, led internal investigations, and litigated high-stakes matters in a wide array of industries, including telecommunications, health care, consumer safety, sports and entertainment, aerospace, media, and real estate.
Mayorkas also served as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. In that role, he led an office of 240 assistant U.S. attorneys in prosecuting cases involving charges of public corruption, investment fraud, civil rights violations, high-tech and computer-related crime, organized crime, environmental crime, and international money laundering.
In 2009, the National Law Journal named him one of the "50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America."
