Jefferson W. Kirby ’84 elected chair of the Board of Trustees
Jefferson W. Kirby ’84 has been elected chair of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College, with his term to begin July 1.
Kirby, who received a government and law degree from Lafayette and the George Wharton Pepper Prize, is a managing member of Broadfield Capital, an investment management firm based in Morristown, N.J., and former chair of the board of Alleghany Corp.
Jefferson W. Kirby ’84
He has served as a Lafayette trustee since 2018 and previously served as a trustee from 1996-2012. As part of the transition, Kirby will step down as chair of the board’s Investment Committee after serving six years in the role.
An active alumnus, he was a member of the Lafayette Campaign’s steering committee, the New York City Regional Campaign committee, and the executive committee of the Alumni Council.
“It is my pleasure to congratulate Jeff and welcome him as the board chair,” said Robert Sell ’84, who has served as board chair since 2018, as a trustee since 2006, and will remain on the board for two more years.
“Jeff has been a steady presence on the board and on our campus. His optimistic leadership always reflects clear, strategic thinking and a deep passion for this institution,” said Sell, adding that his service as board chair has been one of his life’s highlights. “Lafayette College will be in excellent hands under Jeff Kirby’s caring stewardship.”
“The Kirby family has been synonymous with Lafayette College for more than half of our 200 years,” added President Nicole Hurd, who thanked Sell for his years of service as chair and as a trustee, and his leadership in developing the Strategic Plan and setting the stage for a successful Bicentennial year.
“During his service on the board, Jeff has been an example of what selfless, devoted leadership looks like. His enthusiasm for Lafayette is unmatched,” Hurd said. “We count ourselves as fortunate to now have him in the role of board chair as we begin our third century.”
“I am honored and humbled to accept this position. My thanks to Bob Sell for guiding us all these years into this remarkable Bicentennial moment and setting us on the right course for our third century and beyond,” Kirby said. “Without a doubt, Lafayette College has been a meaningful part of my life, as it has been for generations of alumni.”
Kirby, who served as president of Lafayette’s Student Government in 1983-84, credited the College’s success on its remarkable 200-year history and commitment to a high-quality, liberal arts-based undergraduate education that’s tied to excellent faculty, the dedication of staff and coaches, supportive alumni, and bright, engaged students.
“Honoring our traditions while looking for more ways to project the academic excellence and opportunities that radiate from this campus will be among my priorities,” Kirby said
In addition to his degree from Lafayette, Kirby holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. He and his wife, Karen McCabe Kirby ’87, reside in New Vernon, N.J. Two of their children, Jane ’19 and Sam ’22, are also Lafayette alumni.