Biographies of Elected Alumni Trustees, 2009 – 2015
These biographical statements appeared in the election materials sent to each Brown alumna and alumnus.
See a list of all current Alumni Trustees and learn more about these elected positions.
Alumni Trustee
Kate Burton
Los Angeles, California
A.B. ’79, History
M.F.A. ’82, Yale School of Drama
D.F.A. ’07 (Honorary)
Kate is an actress and labor activist. Her work on Broadway includes Hedda Gabler, The Elephant Man, The Constant Wife (all Tony nominated), and Spring Awakening. On television, she is Ellis Grey on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy (twice Emmy nominated) and Cindy Whiting in HBO’s Empire Falls. She appeared in the films Unfaithful, The Ice Storm, Celebrity, Big Trouble in Little China, Max Payne, Sherry Baby, Swimfan, and What Just Happened. In addition, Kate served for 11 years as a councilor at Actor’s Equity Association and is active at AFTRA and Screen Actor’s Guild. She is a trustee of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the American Theatre Wing.
For Brown, Kate has served on the Creative Arts Advisory Board and participated in many panels, forums, and seminars with alumni, undergraduates, and graduate students at the Brown/Trinity Consortium.
Interested in serving because:
From the day I arrived as a freshman in 1975 to the day I brought my son (Morgan Ritchie ’10) as a freshman in 2006 to the day I received a cherished honorary doctorate from President Simmons in 2007 to today, I have always been true to Brown. I had planned to be a diplomat and ended up an actress and labor activist. Brown gave me the ability to shift my perspective and gave me the ballast in my life as an artist. I would be honored to represent my fellow alumni as a trustee for this university that I care about so much.
Alumni Trustee
Dorsey M. “DJ” James
Maplewood, New Jersey
A.B. ’83, Engineering
M.B.A. ’89, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
DJ is president of Skor Entertainment, a holding company that invests and takes an active management role in media assets primarily related to the music business. Skor’s portfolio includes High Revolution Music Publishing, an entity that acquires music copyrights; Richcraft Records, a traditional recorded music label; Musicwerks.com, an online virtual label; and Skor Management, an advisory business providing career management for artists and consulting services for organizations using performing talent to improve brand awareness within specific demographic segments. His company has provided summer internships for Brown students seeking careers in media.
For Brown, DJ was president of the Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC) and regional director and area chair for the Brown Alumni Schools Committees (BASC). Currently he is a BASC interviewer and serves on the President’s Leadership Council and the Creative Arts Advisory Board.
Interested in serving because:
While I can never repay the debt of gratitude I have with Brown, I always contribute so that others may gain experiences similar to mine, which remain some of the best of my life and the most life affirming. Something I was told at Brown became my credo: “Leave the place better than when you came.” The near future is going to present significant challenges for the university. I want to help us navigate through those tough times and preserve the ideas and goals we have fashioned.
Alumni Trustee
Peige Katz
New York, New York
A.B. ’91, Political Science, International Relations (Honors)
J.D. ’95, University of Pennsylvania
Peige is associate general counsel of Ritchie Capital Management, LLC, a privately owned hedge fund sponsor that manages more than $2 billion in assets. Peige joined Ritchie to provide strategic analysis of and compliance with a rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment. Previously, she structured and developed equity financial products at banks such as Morgan Stanley, Société Générale, and Bank of America. Peige serves as an advisor to the Asia Society, a leading policy, business, and arts organization chaired by Brown alumnus Richard Holbrooke, and on the board of Marquis Studios, a not for profit providing arts in education services to New York City public schools.
For Brown, Peige was co-president of the Brown Club of Great Britain and co-founder of the Brown International Young Alumni Council. Currently, she is a member of the executive council for the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) and co-chairs the Women’s Launch Pad.
Interested in serving because:
I have had the incredible opportunity to oversee the creation of the Women’s Launch Pad, the first of its kind mentoring program that reaches out to undergraduate seniors to pair them with successful graduates. The talent, ingenuity, and passion of these Brown seniors and alumnae are a constant reminder of the outstanding education Brown provides and the unique imprint of citizenship the university instills in its graduates. I would be honored to serve as an alumni trustee and welcome an opportunity to lend my experience and commitment to provide creative and dynamic solutions to meet the future challenges of the university.
Alumni Trustee
Jonathan M. Rozoff
New York, New York
A.B. ’85, Public Policy (Honors)
M.B.A. ’90, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Elected treasurer of the Brown Alumni Association in 2007, Jon serves on its Board of Governors and Strategy Committee and chairs its Finance Committee. He has guided the development of alumni services, enhancing financing, communications, career support, campus and regional events, and other offerings. He received the 2006 Ittleson Award for outstanding Brown volunteer leadership.
Jon serves on Brown’s Campaign Steering Committee and Annual Fund Leadership Council. An advisor to Brown’s Young Alumni Leadership Council, he provides mentoring to leaders of recently graduated classes and career advice to students and alumni.
Jon is a vice president of Cornerstone Research, a finance and economics consulting firm he has helped build from its earliest days to a staff of more than 400, and has hired a number of Brown alumni and students as staff and interns.
Interested in serving because:
Brown was a great experience for me and remains an important part of my life. Like many others, I feel energized by President Simmons’ leadership—adding new faculty and innovative programs, increasing commitment to financial aid, and striving to build on Brown’s unique character. Such ambitions prove challenging in good times and all the more so in the face of the current economic downturn. I feel fortunate to have been able to serve Brown over the years and remain actively engaged with alumni, staff, faculty, and students. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of serving as a trustee to continue helping advance the university’s goals and ensuring that Brown has the resources it needs to achieve them.