We are proud to be guided by a dedicated advisory board of business and community leaders who support the mission of Horizons SHU.
Mary Lou DeRosa, MBA
Co-Chair
Mary Lou DeRosa retired after 25 years at Sacred Heart University, where she held roles including Vice Provost and Dean of University College. She also led SHUonline and the Stamford Graduate Center. A past board member of several nonprofits, she has volunteered with organizations including the Tommy Fund and CT NOIAW. Mary Lou earned her BA from the University of Dayton and her MBA from SHU.
Deane F. Martire
Co-Chair
Deane Martire has over 30 years of experience in financial services, including roles at Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and GE Capital. He has focused on regulatory compliance, fixed income, and investment banking. Deane earned degrees from Notre Dame and Duke University and chaired the Welch College of Business & Technology Board of Visitors. He resides in Westport with his wife and two daughters.
Bradford Evans
Co-Vice Chair
Bradford Evans is a Senior Advisor at Morgan Stanley, where he has held roles including Vice Chairman and Head of European Investment Banking. A longtime leader in mergers and acquisitions, he joined the firm in 1970. He is a graduate of Dartmouth and Columbia. Bradford lives in Southport with his wife, Barbara.
Amanda Moras, PhD
Co-Vice Chair
Amanda Moras is Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning at SHU and has been on the faculty since 2010. She has led key initiatives including SHU Flex and the Social Justice Living and Learning Community. Amanda previously directed the Gender & Sexuality Studies and Thomas More Honors programs. She is a leader in evidence-based teaching and student success.
James Moye
Treasurer
James Moye is Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, where he has worked since 1989 in Private Wealth Management. He serves on the Boards of The Catholic University of America and Wakeman Boys and Girls Club. A former trustee of Lauralton Hall, James is active in youth basketball. He lives in Fairfield with his wife, Jeanne.
Laurie Bellico
Laurie Bellico is a proud double SHU alumna and Alumni Award of Excellence recipient. She served as SHU’s Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events for over a decade, creating hallmark events like the Discovery Dinner. Now a top-producing Realtor in Naples, FL, Laurie was ranked among the top 200 agents in the state in 2022. She is also an active volunteer with numerous organizations supporting seniors and youth.
Mary-Ann Bunting
Mary Ann Bunting is a private wealth advisor with Ameriprise Financial and a member of Sacred Heart University’s Board of Trustees. She actively supports nonprofits including CT Challenge and the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. Mary Ann holds a master’s in education from Boston College. Her professional and volunteer work reflects a strong commitment to service and community leadership.
Eliza Chang
Eliza Chang has spent her career helping companies thoughtfully communicate through content. After graduating from The College of William & Mary, she spent a decade working in media — at The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and most recently, NBC — and now partners with organizations large and small on their own content marketing needs. She is active in her community, serving on the board of the Southport Congregational Preschool for the last five years, and volunteering at her church, her children’s schools, and various other local groups. She lives in Southport with her husband, Jake, and their three young children.
William Cody
Bill spent most of his career with The Progressive Corp. as its Chief Investment Officer, retiring in 2020. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo with a degree in Chemical Engineering and from Columbia Business School. He formally Chaired the Board of Cristo Rey New York High School and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School. Bill and his wife, Laura, live in Wilton. They have three children and eight grandchildren.
John Cofini
John Cofini stands as a transformative figure in the construction insurance sector of New York, distinguished by his strategic foresight and over 30 years of experience in navigating the industry’s intricacies. As the Partner and Construction Insurance Practice Leader at Acrisure, John is celebrated for his mastery in formulating all-encompassing risk management solutions and pioneering insurance strategies, empowering contractors, developers, and property owners to significantly lower costs while bolstering their market leadership. His influence is acknowledged through his past leadership as chair of Big I New York and his current role on Sacred Heart University’s Board of Trustees. John’s appointment to the Horizon SHU Board reflects his dedication to driving community progression and spearheading innovative educational initiatives.
Thomas Graham
Tom Graham is President of a real estate investment firm and former Vice Chair of Realty Growth Investors. He has served on several boards, including Wakeman Boys and Girls Club and the Inner City Foundation for Charity and Education. A Georgetown alum and U.S. Army veteran, he lives in Southport with his wife. They have four children and six grandchildren.
John Lynch
John Lynch’s 40-year HR career culminated as Chief HR Officer at GE, overseeing over 300,000 employees worldwide. He began his career in the UK and joined GE Capital in 1991. Since retiring, he has advised numerous global organizations. John lives in Southport, CT, with his wife, Ellen.
Cheryl MacLachlan
Cheryl MacLachlan recently retired from Morgan Stanley, where she served as Executive Director and Private Wealth Advisor. She previously worked at U.S. Trust and was Associate Publisher at Esquire. Cheryl is a published author and multilingual advocate for literacy and mentorship programs. She lives in New York and New Haven with her husband, a Yale professor.
Gregory Middleton
Gregory Middleton is Assistant Principal at Daniel Webster Magnet School and was the founding Executive Director of Horizons at SHU. He has served in leadership roles with The Boys’ Club of New York and as a teacher and administrator in NYC and Westchester. Greg holds degrees from Fordham and the College of New Rochelle. He lives in Port Chester, NY.
Gaga Murray
Gaga Murray is a jewelry designer and entrepreneur who founded her jewelry company in 2018. Her designs have gained international recognition and have been featured in leading publications including Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, L’Officiel, Town & Country, Marie Claire, and Glamour. While her brand initially developed a global customer base, Gaga is currently focused on expanding and strengthening its presence within the United States market. Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and raised in Dubai, UAE, Gaga’s multicultural background has shaped her creative perspective and appreciation for global design. She later moved to Boston to pursue her undergraduate studies before relocating to Miami, where she lived for eight years with her husband while building her business and creative career. After welcoming their two sons, the family moved to Westport, Connecticut, when their children were ages two and one. In addition to her work as a designer and founder, Gaga is committed to community engagement. While living in Miami, she supported a local shelter serving single mothers and their children. Today, Gaga balances growing her brand with raising her two boys in Connecticut while contributing her perspective as an entrepreneur, creative professional, and globally minded community member.
Jen Tooker
Jen Tooker is a proven leader who has a unique combination of private-sector financial expertise and local government experience. Raised in Dallas, Jen graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Economics and International Studies. She built a successful 20+ year career in the global reinsurance industry at Gen Re, where she held senior roles in underwriting, marketing, and management in Chicago and London. Jen and her family moved to Westport CT in 2008 where she immediately began her career in public service, with roles on Westport’s Conservation Commission, Board of Education, and Board of Finance before being elected Second Selectwoman and later First Selectwoman. A dedicated community member, Jen has also been active in local nonprofits and education initiatives, with a particular focus on closing the achievement gap. Jen lives in Westport with her husband, Mo Tooker. They have 3 children, Jack, Riley and Nicole.
Amy Orenstein
For the last 20 years, Amy has been actively involved in the non-profit community in Fairfield County. Recent work includes founding Horizons Bridgeport and active roles at Social Impact Partners, including Board Treasurer. She has strong skills in strategy development, team building, project management, and financial modeling. Amy’s professional experience developed in management consulting; she has an MBA from New York University and a Bachelor of Science from Babson College. For 24 years, she has lived in Westport with her husband Ted and their four children.
Raymond Rizio
Raymond Rizio is a leading land use attorney in Fairfield County, handling both residential and commercial real estate. He has represented clients like McDonald’s and the City of Bridgeport, and serves on the board of Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. Ray has also served on numerous civic commissions and coached high school basketball. He is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall and Quinnipiac Law School.
Alisa Ryan
Alisa Ryan is a Marketing and Design Consultant with over 15 years of experience, including work at Chanel. A Trinity College alum, she’s active in the Fairfield Garden Club and Southport Congregational Church. Alisa and her family have hosted Fresh Air Fund children since 2015. She lives in Southport with her husband and two children.
Scott Supernaw, MBA
Scott Supernaw is the former Managing Director International at Tauck Inc. and past President/CEO of Olson-Travelworld. A founder and past chair of several global tourism organizations, he has developed tour programs across all seven continents. Scott holds degrees from Michigan State and served as a U.S. Army officer. He now serves as Vice-Chair Americas of the World Rural Tourism Conference.
Kenneth Weinstein
Ken Weinstein is president and chief executive officer of Newtown Savings Bank, a $1.8 billion mutual savings bank founded in 1855 and headquartered in Newtown, CT. He joined the Bank in 2011 following more than 20 years in a variety of senior roles at People’s United Bank in Bridgeport. Ken serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of the United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut, Vice Chairman of America’s Mutual Banks, and on the Boards of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Connecticut Community Bankers Association. He is also a trustee and chairman of the finance committee at Berkeley College and a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Committee on Recommendation of Candidates. He previously served on and chaired the Board of LifeBridge Community Services in Bridgeport. A resident of Easton, Ken is a graduate of Trumbull High School, Dartmouth College and Harvard Business School.
