ICUNJ relies on a strong Board of Advisors to guide and support efforts contributing to student success at New Jersey’s independent universities. New Jersey’s private colleges are an educational asset for the State offering “students a different type of education, an education where students can get tremendous amounts of personal attention and where faculty are committed to teaching first” (Docking, 2015, p. 1). Promoting the value of these incredible higher education assets to business and industry is an additional role of ICUNJ Advisors. The latest candidates joining the board demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the value of a college education for each student and to promoting the economic, intellectual, community and cultural facets of the areas in which we live and work.
Welcome New Board of Advisors
Thierry E. Klein, President of Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research, said: “I am honored to have been appointed to the ICUNJ Advisory Board. At Nokia Bell Labs, we work with leading universities and academic institutions to tackle the challenges facing humanity and develop technologies that will transform the way we live. Through my appointment, I am eager to collaborate with ICUNJ and connect with the most talented minds from New Jersey’s independent universities who will become the next generation of thought leaders and innovators.”
Thierry’s distinguished global multi-disciplinary team conducts fundamental and applied research focused on new value chains, business opportunities and ecosystems beyond Nokia’s current product and solutions portfolio. His team pursues research and innovation into advanced sensing technologies, AI-based knowledge systems and fundamental algorithms, autonomous software and data systems, novel architectures and integrated solutions and experiences.
Thierry served as the Founding Vice-Chair of the Board of the 5G Automotive Association, a cross-industry association bringing together the telecommunications and automotive industries, and he served as the Chair of the Technical Committee of GreenTouch, a global consortium dedicated to improving energy efficiency in networks by a factor 1000x compared to 2010 levels. He was the Founder and CTO of an internal start-up focused on wireless communications for emergency response and disaster recovery situations.
Thierry earned an MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the Université de Nantes and the Ecole Centrale de Nantes in Nantes, France. He received a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. He is an author on over 35 peer-reviewed conference and journal publications and an inventor on 36 patent applications. In 2010, he was voted “Technologist of the Year” at the Total Telecom World Vendor Awards and received the 2016 Industrial Innovation award from the IEEE Communications Society. Thierry has dual US and Luxembourg citizenship and speaks four languages.
Sangeetha Sivasubramani, Vice President, BD Finance joined the board because, “we have an incredible group of colleges in New Jersey and one of the most exciting and diverse portfolios of employers in the country. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to support the purpose of ICUNJ through the Talent Pipeline committee to strengthen the bonds and linkages between the schools and the employers – helping to make college graduates more ready for the workforce and helping companies in the area, like BD, tap into the wealth of talent in our own neighborhood.”
Sangeetha brings 28 years of experience in corporate finance with a strong focus on global business units, P&L ownership and enterprise transformation to the ICUNJ Board of Advisors. In her current position, the initiatives she works on are leading a few global multi-functional transformations covering a wide variety of functions involving over 5,000 associates globally. Prior to joining BD at their New Jersey location eight years ago, Sangeetha worked for P&G for over 20 years in three continents working out of India, Manila, Costa Rica, Baltimore, and Cincinnati.
Her mother tongue is Tamil, and she is fluent in writing, reading, and speaking. Sangeetha holds a bachelor’s in commerce from University of Madras, India and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Sangeetha also supports the community by serving at Bergen Volunteers. She has also held board roles for CASA in NJ and Building Blocks for Kids in Ohio.
Julian Leone, Vice President – Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management shared,, , “Giving back to the institutions that shaped my success is not just a gesture of gratitude, its an investment in future generations and a recognition of the power of education to transform lives. I am confident that the future of education will be different from the past and so it is essential for us to continue to invest in that future if we expect to be successful. I am honored to be working with Steve Reynolds and the entire ICUNJ family.”
Julian is currently a Vice President within Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management, where he works with non-profit organizations as an investment advisor and has been in this role since 2012. Prior to holding this position, he was a Vice President in the Compliance Division. During his tenure with Goldman Sachs, Julian completed two tours of duty in Bagdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military service was as part of the Army National Guard where he was a Military Intelligence Captain from 2001-2010. Prior experience includes work as a public accountant and as an Investigator, Bureau of Security for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Julian earned an MBA from New York University after earning a BS in Accounting from The College of New Jersey. He earned a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law. He has been licensed to practice law in New Jersey since 2006.
Michael A. Danko, Business Development Manager, Pennoni, offers a perspective from a professional on the rise, “As a member of the Board of Advisors for the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ), I am committed to advocating for access to quality higher education in our state. Access to good colleges and universities is essential for our region’s progress and prosperity. Through promoting access, affordability, engagement, and collaboration, we can all play a role in preparing the next generation for success.”
In his current role with Pennoni, Michael is responsible for building long-term relationships that ensure client satisfaction and drive company growth from New Jersey to Maine. His talents in project management and business development have contributed to his career progression with MidAtlantic Engineering Partners and Penn Environmental and Remediation before joining Pennoni in November 2023.
Michael was a double major at Binghamton University earning BAs in Geographic Information Science and Cartography and Environmental Geosciences. He went on to pursue an MBA at Villanova.
