Sharon Chang ’84, P’19 Appointed Chair of Vassar’s Board of Trustees
On July 1, Sharon Chang ’84, P’19 formally assumed her new role as Chair of Vassar’s Board of Trustees, succeeding Anthony Friscia ’78, who stepped down after 15 years of service on the board, the last six as Chair. As she took over the reins of the board, Chang reflected on her 40-year love affair with the College. She acknowledged the support she has received from her Vassar friends throughout her career and her commitment to supporting younger Vassar grads with theirs, and she expressed her admiration for President Elizabeth Bradley and her faith in her colleagues on the board as they prepare to tackle the challenges the College faces in the years ahead.
Photo by Dana Chang ’19
Q. Tell us about your first contact with Vassar. How did you come to apply for admission more than 40 years ago?
A. My high school guidance counselor, Hazel Grossman Tishcoff, highly recommended that I apply to Vassar. I had never heard of the College before Mrs. Tishcoff made that intro. She had also attended Vassar and is an active alum of the class of 1960. Once I visited Vassar, I instantly fell in love with the College.
Q. You were a first-gen student, which could have been challenging at times at any prestigious college back in the 1980s. How did you acclimate to your college experience? What did you decide to study, and what activities did you engage in when you weren’t studying?
A. For me, Vassar was a treasure trove of opportunity and the possibilities were endless. Every area that I had interest in was completely accessible and in my reach. From joining Night Owls to auditioning and landing a significant role as Narrator in the drama department’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s To Be Young, Gifted and Black in the first semester of freshman year to being a newscaster/newsreader at our campus radio station, WVKR, to taking piano lessons from the great Professor Todd Crow and having my first recital in Skinner the second semester of freshman year, to being actively involved and engaged with the Black Student Union—I think it was called SAS at that time—I had access to numerous opportunities. I almost declared as a drama major, but shifted to being an English major because of my passion for writing and reading fiction. Eventually, every year, I ended up landing lead roles in drama productions that, at the time, normally went to White actresses, so I was an anomaly. Productions included the lead in Ondine, the lead in The Lady’s Not for Burning, and the lead in A Little Night Music, just to name a few. I had also formed a very popular gospel choir in my sophomore year, and we traveled together to other colleges to perform, including Yale. I was also a member of the Daisy Chain during my sophomore year—African Violets didn’t exist at the time.
Q. How did Vassar prepare you for your career? Did any alums help you get your career started, and have you kept in touch with students and faculty you knew here? Is it a priority of yours to act as a mentor to young Vassar grads?
A. Since I was able to dive into my areas of interest with complete abandon, it made me fearless about pursuing whatever I wanted to pursue after I graduated. Missie Rennie Taylor ’68 helped me after graduation. She counseled me as I sought to pursue a career in TV news. At the time, she was exec producer of CBS News Sunday Morning, but there were no entry-level openings available for me to pursue at the time. I was offered an opportunity to work at CBS Sports instead and was going to pass on it, but Missie encouraged me to accept it. She wisely encouraged me to get my foot in the door at CBS by joining CBS Sports, then said it would be easier to get to CBS News by already being in the company. After joining CBS Sports, the opportunities at the network in that division just continually evolved, even though I never ended up joining CBS News. I am unequivocally committed to engaging with and mentoring current students and alums, especially young alums. Through the years, I have met with dozens of Vassar students and alums and am completely committed to both paying it forward and “hiring Vassar” in my current position as a Partner and Agent at WME [William Morris Endeavor Entertainment].
Q. You have been serving on the Board of Trustees since 2017. Describe that experience. What aspects of College life and governance have you been most involved in? What has it been like working with your fellow board members?
A. At first, I was completely intimidated and experienced major imposter syndrome. But my passion for Vassar propelled me to embrace and overcome the challenges that I had experienced. I also had a daughter attending Vassar, so my engagement was high and my interest in supporting and making an impact was equally as high. Prior to being elected as a Trustee, I was very active with the AAVC Board, and was Chair of the Alumni Recognition Committee, eventually serving as a Trustee. My focus on the board was Student and Academic Affairs, so I was eventually appointed Chair of that committee (SAAC). I had a learning curve, but really loved it. I was also active with communications and embraced being on an ad hoc committee involved with Vassar’s rebranding. When I see the evolution of Vassar’s new website and other assets on campus, l am incredibly excited. This all stemmed from President Bradley’s forward-thinking mission and vision for the College. Also, for the past few years, I have developed strong bonds with my fellow Trustees and absolutely treasure the relationships that have evolved and strengthened these past few years. They are sacrosanct to me.
Q. You have said your decision to accept the role as Board Chair was not an easy one, given the responsibilities of your day job. What convinced you to accept the position?
A. We have a strong President and CEO in President Bradley. She gets things done, and has a very strong, experienced senior team. Our Trustee executive committee is [composed] of a team of experts who work at the highest levels of their field, and every Trustee adds significant value to the board. I am humbled and honored by this gift. It also gives me confidence that I am leading a team of leaders on the board who are fiduciaries of the College who support President Bradley and ensure that Vassar [can] fulfill its educational mission.
Q. Finally, a more open-ended question: Almost since you graduated, you’ve devoted a lot of time and energy to the College in various roles. Why is Vassar so special to you?
A. When I attended Vassar, it prepared and provided me with a strong foundation to have the confidence to make an impact in whatever God called me to do, wherever and whenever that was. As my children got older, it was easy to feel inspired to serve Vassar in various ways, through our alumni board, through class engagement, and—for the past seven years—through the Board of Trustees.