Alfred University News

Alfred University welcomes two to Board, confirms three longtime members as Life Trustees

Alfred University announces the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees, while also confirming three long-time Board members as Life Trustees.


ALFRED, NY – Alfred University announces the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees, while also confirming three long-time Board members as Life Trustees.

Marianne (Wilcox) Gaige ’80 and Terry D. Montgomery ’70 were appointed Trustees, while Jay Haberland ’72, Jeffrey Maurer ’69, and Marlin Miller ’54, HD ’89, HD ’19 were confirmed as Life Trustees. The appointments were made at the Board of Trustees meeting in May and became effective July 1.

Gaige earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Alfred University and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard University's Graduate School of Business in 1987. She has served as president and chief operating officer of Cathedral Corporation since 1996 and was named company board chair and chief executive officer in 2013. Cathedral Corporation is a provider of financial, marketing, and fundraising communications to a variety of industries including financial services, health care, higher education, and churches.

Montgomery, who graduated from Alfred with a bachelor’s degree in business, retired from Chubb and Son in 2010 after serving 12 years as vice president and worldwide manager for marine and transportation underwriting. In 2021, he established an endowed scholarship—the Alumni Funded Scholarship for Student Academic Excellence—to benefit Alfred University students in need.

“We are delighted and grateful to have Marianne Gaige and Terry Montgomery join the Alfred University Board of Trustees,” said Mark Zupan, Alfred University president. “Their professional achievements, along with their commitment to advancing our University, will help promote our mission of transforming students’ lives and bettering our world.”

Gaige and Montgomery each have family connections to Alfred University. Marianne’s father, William G. Wilcox Sr., attended Alfred University, and her brothers, William G. “Bill” Wilcox Jr. '75 and John A. Wilcox '87, are Alfred University alumni. Terry’s mother, Doris Montgomery, a resident of Almond, New York, is a former employee of our Business Office. His sister, Patricia G. Montgomery Crandall, graduated from Alfred University in 1975 with a degree in nursing and is the wife of our retired Dean of Libraries, Steve Crandall '76. Terry's late wife, Nancy (Risser) Montgomery ’70, graduated from our nursing program and was among the first nurses in the nation to be certified as an adult nurse practitioner.

Haberland earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Alfred University in 1972. He holds a master’s degree from Northeastern University and is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts certified public accountant. He is retired from United Technologies Corporation, where he held numerous positions, most recently as vice president, business controls, for United Technologies in Hartford, CT.

He joined the Board of Trustees as an Alumni Elected Trustee in 2004 and was elected in 2007 by the Board of Trustees, serving as a Board member for a total of 18 years. He is a charter member of the Saxon Circle and he and his wife, Evelyn, are members of Alfred University’s Founder’s Society. Haberland has also supported Alfred University’s Stonewall Fund, the on-campus Food Pantry, and numerous scholarships

Maurer earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Alfred University in 1969. He holds an MBA from New York University and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law. He is the Chairman of Evercore Wealth Management and Evercore Trust Company, N.A., a leading independent Registered Investment Advisory firm.

He was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1984 and served as a Board member for a total of 38 years. Jeff’s philanthropy helped fund the College of Business Trading Room, the Strategic Investment Fund, the General Purpose Quasi Endowment, the Saxon Inn, Hillel House renovations, the Miller Performing Arts Center, and a maintenance fund for Kanakadea Hall. He is a generous supporter of the Alfred Fund, is a Saxon Circle member, and a supporter of Alfred University’s Common Ground program.

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University in 1954 and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 1975 he co-founded Arrow International, Inc., a Reading, PA-based maker of critical and cardiac-care medical devices, for which he served as president and CEO until his retirement in 2003. He is now active in venture capital, serving as senior advisor of Norwich Ventures, Inc., a company he co-founded.

He joined the Board of Trustees in 1970 and served as a Board member for a total of 52 years, including six years (1983-89) as Board chair from 1983-1989. Alfred University’s most generous benefactor, his philanthropy has transformed our campus through his support of building construction and renovation, endowed faculty/staff positions, and academic programs. He has provided opportunities for countless Alfred University students, who each year benefit from a scholarship fund he has created. The Marlin Miller Outstanding Senior Awards, established in his honor and presented annually at Commencement to two seniors, are given based on scholarship, extracurricular achievement, personal character, and conduct.

“We are deeply grateful to Jay Haberland, Jeff Maurer, and Marlin Miller for their commitment to Alfred University and dedicated service to our Board,” Zupan commented. “We look forward to their continued engagement and support as Life Trustees.”