Meet Jeff Moslow, the New Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Jeff Moslow, A86, A16P, A18P, has come a long way from playing pickup basketball in Cousens Gym. This month, he is taking the helm of the Tufts Board of Trustees as chairman, succeeding Peter R. Dolan, A78, A08P, who stepped down following the board meeting on November 2.

A longtime advocate for Tufts, Moslow has been a trustee of the university since 2011. In addition to being vice chair, he has served on the Executive Committee, chaired the Administration and Finance Committee, and is a member of the Investment Committee. Moslow also has served on the Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors since 2007. As a member of the Tufts Financial Network, he helped create the Tufts Finance Initiative, a program designed to educate students and facilitate their hiring into the finance industry. A donor to a variety of Tufts programs, his philanthropy has focused on financial aid and athletics.

Professionally, Moslow is a private investor and a retired partner of Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was head of investment banking services. He was a member of the Investment Banking Division Operating Committee and served on the Commitments Committee, which had oversight responsibility for global underwriting.

In a May 2024 email to the community announcing Moslow's chairmanship, President Sunil Kumar noted Moslow's passion for Tufts and his keen understanding of the university's structure and finances. "I learned much about the enterprise of the university from him. At the same time, Jeff's deep appreciation for the humanities underlies his business acumen," Kumar said.

Moslow is joined in his leadership of the board by newly appointed vice chairs Mariann Youniss, J83, and Theodore (Ted) Tye, A79, A06P, A13P.

Tufts Nowcaught up recently with Moslow following a six-day cycling trip, one of over 30 such outdoor adventures he and his wife have taken over the last 20 years.

You clearly have a passion for cycling and hiking! How did you stay active at Tufts?

I've always been very active. Though I wasn't a varsity athlete at Tufts, I played basketball probably every day in Cousens Gymnasium. And if I wasn't playing basketball, I was jogging. My kids are very active as well. My oldest son was a four-year varsity rower at Tufts. My middle son also went to Tufts, so I got to see through the eyes of a parent how well their education has served them, both personally and professionally.

I'm a huge advocate for helping our students stay active, whether they're varsity athletes, intramural athletes, or just staying in shape. In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you learn so much from athletics-teamwork, sacrifice, results, how to win, and, equally important, how to lose.

As an undergraduate, you majored in classical studies and economics. What was that pairing like?

When I first came to Tufts, I was pre-med. I sat through my first couple weeks of biology, and I was just completely overwhelmed, so I decided to explore some other subjects while fulfilling my requirements. That's how I found the Departments of Economics and Classical Studies, and I ended up pursuing both. In fact, classics fulfilled my arts, writing, andlanguage requirements.

On a professional level, economics really served me well since I was involved in the business world, but classics has been equally valuable. Not a day goes by where I'm not reading or watching something that makes me reflect on a learning from my classical studies. Just look at the political setting today, look at sports, Hollywood, etc.-the archetypes haven't changed at all.

Any favorite classes come to mind?

The first classical studies course I took was Greek and Roman tragedy. I got introduced to Professor Zarker, who was an incredible performer. It was one of those courses that was always overenrolled. I think there were around 250 students. People wouldn't miss this class because it was so exciting. I always look back on that when thinking about the student experience: How do we help ignite or enhance an existing passion in someone?

What is a lesson you learned at Tufts that still guides you today?

I would say I learned the value of hard work. I worked very hard as an undergrad, but I had a balanced lifestyle. I was playing sports all day, studying at night, had a good circle of friends, many of whom I am still close with today.

It's not uncommon for young adults to be all over the map. Tufts gave me a tremendous amount of discipline and taught me how to keep things in perspective. I enjoyed every moment, so I learned that you could work hard and enjoy it. I tell students to make sure you have a passion for what you want to spend a good part of your life on because if you don't enjoy it, you're not going to find it fulfilling.

You're also a Tufts parent. What advice do you have for parents?

The cost of education is so expensive. If a student can get into Tufts, I believe it's our job to make sure it's affordable. I have just seen so many positive outcomes of a Tufts education. That doesn't mean we don't need to continue to upgrade the outcomes, but I think the student experience at Tufts is extraordinary in so many ways.

Firstly, we have world-class faculty performing both research and teaching. Our professors are not just doing research with teaching assistants running most of the classes; our faculty prioritize teaching as well. A large percentage of our undergrads participate in research. How often do undergraduate students get to work on important research endeavors that can make the world a better place? And with the [MBTA] Green Line extension, it's easier to get to the Health Sciences campus downtown where even more of that research occurs.

Secondly, we have really transformed what our Medford/Somerville campus looks like. We still have work to do, but every residence hall has been renovated and modernized. And it was recently announced that we're going to be building a residence hall on the hillside, which will house around 680 students. The gymnasium has become world-class. Joyce Cummings Center is a great, multipurpose building that provides a place for students to gather, classrooms, and large event spaces with unique views of the Boston skyline. And this focus on infrastructure will take place on all of Tufts' campuses. I think that's really exciting.

Moslow with the newly appointed vice chairs of the Board of Trustees, Mariann Youniss, J83, and Theodore (Ted) Tye, A79, at the board's meeting on November 2, 2024. Photo: Alonso Nichols

In addition to great faculty, facilities, and athletics, there's a broad spectrum of extracurricular activities. Boston, one of the most vibrant cities in the country for young people, is at your fingertips. Tufts is a kind of "Goldilocks school"-not too big, not too small, not too urban, not too rural. It's a small village in the big city.

All of those experiences hopefully contribute to really great outcomes for our students, and I define outcomes very broadly. That could be a job in the public or private sector. It could be graduate school or pursuing research. It's not just about dollars and cents-it's about how well Tufts helps you get to the next step that you want to pursue. And we're going to continue to focus on how we improve in this competitive space and create a value proposition on a relative basis for what it costs.

When you think about the culture at Tufts, what are some adjectives that come to mind?

Kind and warm. And not only is it kind and inviting when you're here; it's kind and inviting when you leave. No matter where I am in the world, when people see my Jumbo hat, there's a shared love for the place. Everybody has a story about the kindness and warmth they experienced at Tufts. And I see this on the board, in the administration, in the faculty with whom I interact. Not many schools are like that.

You recently transitioned to the role of chairman of the Tufts Board of Trustees. What are some of the traits you think are important for someone in this leadership role?

Listening is number one. I think listening to what's on the minds of trustees, the administration, faculty, alumni, and students is critical. While I have views on the university, what amazes me about being on the board is that I'm constantly learning.

Over the last 13 years, I've studied how all the graduate and undergraduate schools operate, how the financial model of Tufts works, and what makes us successful. We're focused on producing the best educational product, and therefore need to continue to invest in faculty, financial aid, and infrastructure.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest opportunities for Tufts?

The administration and President Kumar are busy working on a lot of different things. What I will be focused on is continuing to look at the affordability of the education. We're going to continue to be an engineering and a liberal arts-centric undergraduate program. In a competitive world, where employers are looking at different skill sets, learning to think is the most important, but what else should we be doing? For example, how might we introduce more content like entrepreneurial studies and finance courses, both of which also offer minors? I think that's how we add value.

I'm also focused on elevating our career services and offering enhanced advising on graduate schools and programs. How do we make sure we're helping our students achieve the outcomes that they want?

Is there anything else you would like the community to know about you?

Tufts provided me with a transformational experience on an academic and social level. It prepared me so well for graduate school and beyond. I got involved because I credit so much of my perspective on life and my success in different areas to Tufts. I really want to make sure that any student who gets into Tufts can have a transformative experience and doesn't have to make their decision around affordability.

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