Harvard Law Students Lobby for Safe and Supportive School Environments

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Posted on 2nd December 2011 by admin in Gregg Hymowitz

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Students from Harvard Law School, where Gregg Hymowitz earned his JD Cum Laude, recently traveled to the Massachusetts State House where they testified before the Joint Committee on Education and lobbied legislators for support for legislation to create safe and supportive school environments. The eight students are part of the Harvard Law School Education Law Clinic of Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative. At the Clinic, the HLS students represent children who have been traumatized by abuse or violence in special education and school discipline manners.

In January, Representative Martha Walz (D-Boston) filed H 1962, An Act for Safe and Supportive Schools, which the students of the Law Clinic of Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative are currently helping her amend. The bill requires schools to develop a plan of action to create a safe and supportive school environment by 2017; its framework comes from a TLPI publication titled Helping Traumatized Children Learn. Not only would the bill establish a committee to oversee statewide implementation of the plan in schools, it would establish Centers of Excellence grant programs to fund selected schools that wish to serve as models. It would also require that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provide schools with technical assistance.

Even though schools in Massachusetts have established programs to address bullying, problem students and traumatized children in the past several years, there is little consistency between schools and the staffs are struggling to implement these programs throughout the many school districts.

The Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative was created by Susan Cole, Director of the Clinic and HLS Law Lecturer, in conjunction with Massachusetts Advocates for Children, a non-profit child advocacy group in Boston. Gregg Hymowitz is a graduate of Harvard Law School and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Riverdale Country School in New York City.

Binghamton History Professor to Appear on CSPAN

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Posted on 17th November 2011 by admin in Binghamton University |Gregg Hymowitz

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An assistant history professor from Binghamton University, where Gregg Hymowitz earned his undergraduate degree, will appear on national television on Saturday, Nov. 26. Stephen Ortiz will participate in C-SPAN3’s American History TV as part of its “Lectures in History” series, speaking to students in his Modern American Civilizaion class about The New Deal that was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was active between 1935 and 1940.

This was not Ortiz’s first time on national television, however. In 2010, he appeared on C-SPAN2 as part of the channel’s “Book TV” segment when he gave a talk from the Roosevelt Reader Festival. Ortiz also appeared on the PBS program “The History Detectives” in 2008. That is not to say that Ortiz always feels comfortable in front of the cameras.

“It was excruciating to watch,” Ortiz said. “When the camera is on you unrelentingly for an hour, it (shows) every little rhetorical tick you have, every goofy gesture you make and you’re nervous about whether it makes sense.”

Ortiz’s lecture, given in Binghamton’s Anderson Center on Oct. 31, summarized five important years of American history in less than an hour, covering FDR’s liberal opponents Father Charles Coughlin, Huey Long and Francis Townsend and their influence on the president as he worked to pass the Works Progress Administration, Social Security Act of 1935 and the Wagner Act. He also touched on unemployment rates at the time, FDR’s second administration and missteps, minimum-wage and more. He concludes the lecture by nothing that FDR transformed the Democrats into a more ideologically consistent party that would run national politics into the 1960s.

Average SAT Score for Binghamton Freshman Increases Yearly

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Posted on 20th October 2011 by admin in Binghamton University |Gregg Hymowitz

At Binghamton University, where Gregg Hymowitz completed his undergraduate degree, the number of incoming students each fall varies only slightly, but the quality of these first-year students continues to improve, according to standardized test results.

For the fall of 2011, total enrollment at Binghamton is around 14,800, down about 100 from last year. The increased size of this year’s freshman class is offset by the smaller number of graduate students. For the fifth year in a row, the average SAT score for a freshman has risen – this year it reaches 1305, an all-time high. This level of intelligence not only benefits Binghamton but makes future classes more competitive during the admissions process.

“Essentially, our incoming freshmen are ‘A’ students in high school,” Interim Provost Jean-Pierre Mileur said.

In other impressive statistics, visits to the SUNY-Binghamton campus reached a new high last year of 34,357 and applications rose to 28,024. The makeup of the freshman class is of particular interest: 49 percent of incoming freshmen or transfers are from the New York City/Long Island/Westchester-Rockland area. Students from upstate New York make up 28 percent of the class. Mileur predicted that this percentage could rise to 40 percent in the future.

“Overall, I think we are in excellent shape,” Mileur said. “We have a firm foundation for whatever the next president wants to do.”

Riverdale Country School featured in New York Times Magazine

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Posted on 15th September 2011 by admin in Gregg Hymowitz |Riverdale Country School

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Riverdale Country School, which Gregg Hymowitz serves as a board member, recently appeared in a special education issue of The New York Times Magazine as part of a feature article by writer Paul Tough. Tough explores how Riverdale Country School and well-known KIPP New York are approaching the subject of character education in two very different ways and with two very different outcomes.

Riverdale headmaster Dominic Randolph and Dave Levin, KIPP New York superintendent, were brought together one day by chance when they both scheduled appointments with Martin Seligman, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Seligman, who helped establish the Positive Psychology movement, had caught Randolph’s attention when the Headmaster read his book “Learned Optimisim” several years ago. During the meeting, Seligman handed his visitors a copy of his latest book “Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification.” The book highlights the importance of cultivating traits like bravery, wisdom, fairness, social intelligence and more as ways to live a fulfilling life. Now, six years later, both Randolph and Levin have labored to incorporate the “conception of character into action” into their respective schools, one in Harlem and one in Riverdale.

To learn more about the work of educators at KIPP NY and Riverdale Country School and their success in teaching character traits to two very different types of students, visit the New York Times website to read the entire article.

Binghampton University Listed as Top-Ten School for Students’ ROI

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Posted on 30th June 2011 by admin in Binghamton University |Gregg Hymowitz

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Gregg Hymowitz and other Binghamton University alumni are pleased to learn that the money spent on their college education was not spent frivolously. According to a list recently published by Investor’s Business Daily, Binghamton ties for ninth in the country for return on investment (the earnings per dollar spent while getting an education). The school tied with the University of California-San Diego for ninth place on the top-ten list. Investor’s Business Daily judged each school on a variety of criteria; the national newspaper looked at students’ net pay for the 30 years after earning a bachelor’s degree and what it cost to earn the degree. Data showed that the 2010 cost to complete a degree at the school is estimated to be $73,700 and graduates average a net income of $712,300 30 years after graduation, meaning that Binghampton grads receive a 12.5 percent return on interest. The Georgia Institute of Technology, which holds the top spot on the IBD list, gives students a 13.9 percent ROI.

“This is yet another indication of the value of a Binghamton University degree,” said President C. Peter Magrath in a statement released by the school. “We continue to shine in rankings that consider academic quality and overall value, but this ranking underscores that Binghamton University educates its students to contribute and be productive members of society once they leave campus.”

Gregg Hymowitz graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton with a BA, Phi Beta Kappa in 1987 before going on to Harvard Law School. There, he earned his Juris Doctorate and graduated Cum Laude.

“Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”

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Posted on 5th April 2011 by admin in Gregg Hymowitz |Riverdale Country School

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Riverdale Country School, with trustee Gregg Hymowitz, works constantly to provide their students with unique opportunities and educational experiences. Now, Deborah Sherman, a Lower School art teacher, is inviting students and families to visit a special exhibit entitled “In the Eye of the Beholder,” which is on display at the Holiday Inn Manhattan View until next month.

Two of Deborah’s paintings will be on display; “Double Portrait” and “Repose.”

A press release on the exhibit states:

“’Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder’ has long been an implicit understanding in the valuing process of artwork. Throughout the 19th century, scholars worked to craft a common definition of what beauty is. It remains a stubborn mystery and a philosophical challenge. Artists are not deterred. Using patterning, valuing cast-off detritus, and finding beauty in clutter and disarray, these artists craft aesthetics in sometimes abstract, and always multi-dimensional spaces. Their work is beautiful; you decide how it is. It’s in your eye.”

EnTrust Capital Remaining with San Antonio Pension Fund

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Posted on 23rd March 2011 by admin in Business |EnTrust Capital |Gregg Hymowitz

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Gregg Hymowitz of Entrust CapitalThe San Antonio Fire and Police Pension Fund, worth $1.9 billion, is now in the process of transitioning its existing portfolio into more direct investments. As part of that process the Fund has increased its already existing investment in HBK Capital Management.

At its December, 2010 meeting the pension’s investment committee took the decision to increase by $5 million its investment in HBK, which is indicated in the recently published minutes of the investment committee’s meeting. This added investment is part of the overall plan for the fund to change its existing portfolio to an equal division between single hedge fund investments and funds of hedge funds (FoHF) investments.

Currently the pension fund is looking for about 10 direct hedge fund managers. When they are chosen they will each be given the management responsibilities for about $20 million.
The search will be conducted with the assistance of Albourne Partners Consultants, who will help the Texas pension fund to narrow down a list of 40 single manager hedge funds to a more workable 15-20 to pick from. The final cut will leave a “stable of just 10 hedge funds to complement the fund’s current fund of funds”, state the minutes from the meeting of the board of trustees which met at the conclusion of 2010.

Part of the transition process includes the pension fund redeeming funds from three of its FoHF managers: Optima Fund Management, Ironwood Capital Management and Benchmark. The funds which will remain are Lazard Asset Management, Federal Street Advisors and Entrust Capital where Gregg Hymowitz serves as Managing Partner.

Winners of Knicks Poetry Slam Chosen

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Posted on 7th March 2011 by admin in Gregg Hymowitz |Gregg Hymowitz charity |Hymowitz Children's Education Foundation |Knicks Poetry Slam

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The day we have been waiting for arrived on February 24th. That is the day that the Knicks Poetry Slam finalists competed for the three top places and prizes. Three winners were picked from the group of amazingly talented teens who have been competing since November for over $450,000 in grants and prizes.

Among the sponsors of the contest, which was launched in 2003 and designed to encourage New York’s youth to express themselves through poetry for the chance to win cash for college, were Urban Work NYC; the Knicks basketball team; and the Hymowitz Children’s Educational Foundation founded by Gregg Hymowitz.

The final slam took place at the New Amsterdam Theater in New York, and the three winners were Tonya (first place), Mokgethi (second place) and Ishmael (third place).

Watch the following video of the moving performance of the winner, Tonya, for an example of the great talent and expression of these young people.

Excellent News for EnTrust Capital

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Posted on 18th February 2011 by admin in EnTrust Capital |Gregg Hymowitz

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Given that we are currently in an economic climate in which many investors are pausing their investments and there are, at best, “mediocre returns” from funds of funds, EnTrust Capital is clearly in a better position than most. In the last three years, the New York company’s assets have grown by $2 billion. Also, the EnTrust Capital Diversified Fund increased by 11% last year, which is impressive in and of itself but even more exciting for investors since that figure was way above the InvestHedge Composite Index which stood at 4.86%. Gregg Hymowitz is a Managing Partner of EnTrust Capital as well as the chair of the EnTrust Capital Diversified Fund Investment Committee.

Riverdale Upper School Teacher Returns from Thailand

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Posted on 28th January 2011 by admin in Gregg Hymowitz |Riverdale Country School

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Riverdale Country School, with trustee Gregg Hymowitz, is always looking for ways to expose its students and their families to new and exciting experiences. Nicky Enright, Upper School art teacher, has found an opportunity to do so by inviting the Riverdale community to learn about his recent Apexart Outbound Residency program that took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nicky will share pictures and personal experiences from his travels, and compare stories with members of a similar program that took place in South Korea. Both trips were meant to broaden the artists’ horizons and expose them to new worlds.

Upon their return, the travelers are able to share their experiences as well as fuel the imagination of their audience.

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