AUR has announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Trustees, bringing together distinguished leaders from academia, international business, public policy, the creative industries, and philanthropy. Their collective experience will strengthen the university's governance and international connections as AUR advances its strategic priorities and expands its academic and campus facilities.
The newly appointed trustees are Penelope Andrews, Salvatore Giammarresi, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Lisel Loy, Dr. Elizabeth J. Short, and Richard Worley. Based across the United States, their careers span some of the world's leading educational institutions, businesses, cultural organizations, and public policy institutions.
The appointments come at a significant moment in AUR's development. Building on sustained institutional growth, the university is implementing its 2026–2029 strategic plan, Our Time is Now II, alongside a major expansion of its Rome campus, new academic initiatives, and an increased emphasis on career preparation and international engagement.
"These appointments reflect the ambition and breadth of The American University of Rome," said AUR President Dr. Scott Sprenger. "Each of our new trustees brings exceptional experience, fresh perspectives, and a commitment to the transformative power of education. Their guidance will be invaluable as we expand opportunities for our students, strengthen our academic programs, and build on AUR's distinctive position as an international university in the heart of Europe."
Introducing the new trustees
PENELOPE ANDREWS
Legal scholar and academic leader
Penelope Andrews is a distinguished South African–American legal scholar and the John Marshall Harlan II Professor at New York Law School, where she directs the Racial Justice Project and oversees the institution's summer program in Rome. She previously served as the first female Dean and President of Albany Law School and became the first Black Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Cape Town.
A longstanding friend and supporter of AUR, Andrews brings extensive experience in academic leadership, international legal education, and human rights scholarship. Her appointment also builds upon AUR's existing academic partnership with New York Law School.
SALVATORE GIAMMARRESI
Global business and cross-cultural communication executive
Salvatore Giammarresi is Head of Localization at Airbnb, where he leads initiatives supporting communication and engagement across international markets. Born in Chicago to Italian immigrant parents and raised between the U.S. and Italy, he previously held senior positions at PayPal and Yahoo. With a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and experience serving nonprofit organizations dedicated to language equity, Giammarresi brings valuable expertise in international business, digital communications, and cross-cultural engagement.
KAREN KEHELA SHERWOOD
Independent Film and Television Producer
Karen Kehela Sherwood is an accomplished Hollywood film producer and former Co-Chairman of Imagine Films at Imagine Entertainment. Her production credits include the Academy Award-winning A Beautiful Mind, alongside Inside Man and Frost/Nixon. Her most recent production is The Mysterious Benedict Society for Disney+. Throughout her career, she has championed creative talent and emerging writers, including through the Imagine Writers Lab.
A graduate of UCLA, Sherwood also serves on the Board of Directors of First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational equity and the Board of Ready to Succeed, a career accelerator for college students who have been foster system involved.Her experience connects the worlds of creative enterprise, storytelling, and educational opportunity.
LISEL LOY
Public Policy and Nonprofit Leadership Executive
Lisel Loy is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where she oversees institutional strategy and cross-cutting policy, including BPC’s Governance Program dedicated to the security and effectiveness of our democratic institutions. A former senior White House official during the Clinton administration, Loy has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of public policy, governance, and nonprofit leadership.
She brings extensive experience in institutional strategy, operational effectiveness and cross-sector collaboration, complementing AUR's commitment to international relations, civic engagement, and global citizenship. A graduate of Stanford Law School, she also serves on the Board of the Washington Studio School, a nonprofit hub of contemporary visual art practice in Washington, DC.
DR. ELIZABETH J. SHORT
Developmental Psychologist and Academic Research Leader
Dr. Elizabeth J. Short is emeritus professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University, where she directed the master's program in Developmental Psychology with an Early Intervention Specialization. She also led the ALERT Lab, which investigates the cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes that shape children's learning and development.
An experienced academic leader, researcher, and mentor, Short has dedicated her career to advancing evidence-based approaches to education and early intervention. Her appointment brings additional academic expertise to AUR at a time of continued program development, including the introduction of its undergraduate degree in Psychology.
RICHARD WORLEY
Investment Executive, Philanthropist, and Civic Leader
Richard Worley is the founder and Managing Partner of Permit Capital LLC, following a distinguished career in investment management that included senior positions at Miller Anderson & Sherrerd and Morgan Stanley Investment Management.
A prominent figure in American philanthropy and cultural governance, Worley served for a decade as Chairman of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, overseeing a period of significant fundraising achievement. His extensive board experience includes the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the University of Pennsylvania, Colonial Williamsburg, the National Constitution Center, and the Independence Seaport Museum.
Worley brings substantial expertise in finance, institutional governance, philanthropy, and the stewardship of major cultural and educational organizations.
Supporting AUR's next chapter
The new trustees bring experience directly relevant to AUR's priorities as the university undertakes one of the most significant periods of development in its history, with an expanded Rome campus, new academic programs, and greater investment in career preparation and international partnerships. Alongside the existing board members, their expertise will help guide the institution to the next level of development.