Steve Barnes speaking at Syracuse University

Steve Barnes, a Managing Director of Bain Capital Private Equity, was appointed Chairman of Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees during the university’s 2015 Commencement on May 10th. His term as Chairman will run through May 2019.

"Steve Barnes will bring exceptional skills to the role of Chairman," said Chancellor and President of Syracuse University Kent Syverud. "He is a strategic and entrepreneurial thinker. He has worked vigorously on behalf of the University and provided visionary support for our students, and our faculty. I know he will be a great leader in his new role."

Steve was named to the Board of Trustees in 2008, and has served on two of the board’s committees: the executive committee and the investment and endowment committee. In 2014, he received the Dritz Trustee of the Year Award, which recognizes a trustee who shows extraordinary effort on behalf of the University. In 2011, he received the Jonathan J. Holtz Alumnus of the Year Award from the Whitman School of Management.

In 2010, Steve endowed, as part of a gift, the Barnes Family Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities at the Whitman School.  His gift also created the Barnes Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School, which is held by Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie. Also at the school, he is a founding investor in the Orange Value Fund, a $4.1 million student-run portfolio.