The Teachers College Board of Trustees today announced the election of Leslie Morse Nelson as its new Chair, effective Oct. 13, 2022. Nelson, a longtime supporter of the College and a member of the Board since 2010, succeeds William “Bill” Dodge Rueckert, who joined the Board in 1997, served as co-chair beginning in 2003, and was named Chair in 2017. Rueckert will continue to serve as an active member of the Board and as Chair Emeritus.
“We are deeply grateful and indebted to Bill for his exemplary leadership, guidance, and friendship,” said President Thomas Bailey. “We are fortunate that the reins have been handed to Leslie Morse Nelson, another stalwart champion with deep and lasting family ties to TC. Leslie's energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to TC are undeniable, and I am so thankful for the many thoughtful contributions she has made to the College as a trustee over the past 12 years. I look forward to continuing to work with her to build on our strengths for years to come.”
Nelson has served as the Board’s Vice Chair since 2016 and held the same role, alongside Rueckert, on the College’s “Where the Future Comes First” campaign, which raised approximately $300 million—a milestone for the institution. She also spearheaded the School-Based Mental Health Collaboration, an innovative mental health partnership between TC and New York City public schools, established in 2015. Recognizing the need for rich school arts programming, the Morse family has generously supported a robust, K-8 music program at the Teachers College Community School. With her brothers Douglas and Andrew Morse, she helped create Teaching Artists @TC, a certificate program for working artists to build classroom skills, and established the Enid W. Morse Fellowship for Teaching in the Arts in honor of their mother, Enid “Dinny” Morse, who served on TC’s Board of Trustees from 1988 through 2001 and as the Board’s Co-Chair for three years.
We are deeply grateful and indebted to Bill for his exemplary leadership, guidance, and friendship. We are fortunate that the reins have been handed to Leslie Morse Nelson, another stalwart champion with deep and lasting family ties to TC. Leslie's energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to TC are undeniable, and I am so thankful for the many thoughtful contributions she has made to the College as a trustee over the past 12 years. I look forward to continuing to work with her to build on our strengths for years to come.
“Serving as a TC trustee has been immensely fulfilling,” says Nelson. “My family has always cared deeply and personally about the work of Teachers College, particularly the critical role of preparing teachers. I am honored to now serve as chair, and I have already learned so much working alongside Bill. I am eager to continue to collaborate with him, our trustee colleagues, and President Bailey to further strengthen this dynamic institution that is so vital to meeting the challenges of our time.”
Nelson’s extensive service to the College has included positions on numerous committees, including the 125th Anniversary Gala committee and the Audit, Compensation, Development, Executive, and Strategic Innovation committees, as well as the Committee on Trustees and as a Co-Chair of the School Partnerships Committee. Alongside her work with the College, Nelson has served as a member of numerous boards including: Girls Quest, Inc., which provides girls from low-income families with year-round enrichment programs; the Juilliard Council, an advisory board of the Juilliard School; the Board of Trustees of the Collegiate and Chapin Schools; and, currently, the Board of Trustees of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Education Committee of the Board of WNET.
Serving as a TC trustee has been immensely fulfilling. My family has always cared deeply and personally about the work of Teachers College, particularly the critical role of preparing teachers. I am honored to now serve as chair, and I have already learned so much working alongside Bill. I am eager to continue to collaborate with him, our trustee colleagues, and President Bailey to further strengthen this dynamic institution that is so vital to meeting the challenges of our time.
In addition to her philanthropic efforts and after her retirement from a twenty-year career in interior design in 2012, Nelson worked as a teaching assistant in a NYC public elementary school and, for the last five years, has been a substitute teacher with the NYC Department of Education — both first-hand opportunities to see the impact of TC’s teacher preparation programs.
“At TC, I get to see the way teachers are prepared, and then I get to see the implementation in the classroom,” Nelson said in 2014. “It has reinforced for me that what these students are taught and how they’re taught is so important in determining the opportunities they will have for success in life.”
Similar to Nelson, Rueckert’s own family history is deeply intertwined with that of the College. TC’s founder, Grace Hoadley Dodge, was none other than Rueckert’s great aunt, and his grandfather, Cleveland E. Dodge, served on the Board for 67 years, including 32 years as Chair. Rueckert, the president of Oyster Management Group, LLC, has carried on his family’s legacy during his many years of service to the Board.
“Teachers College is unrivaled as a school of education in its breadth and expertise, and in its legacy of improving human lives,” said Rueckert. “As my Great Aunt Grace Dodge said in referring to her founding of the College, ‘We have to lay the foundation, not for one year or two years, but for 50 years.’ This has been my objective as board chair, and I am so pleased that the board will now have a capable, committed leader in Leslie Nelson. I look forward to our continued collaborations.”
Teachers College is unrivaled as a school of education in its breadth and expertise, and in its legacy of improving human lives. As my Great Aunt Grace Dodge said in referring to her founding of the College, ‘We have to lay the foundation, not for one year or two years, but for 50 years.’ This has been my objective as board chair, and I am so pleased that the board will now have a capable, committed leader in Leslie Nelson. I look forward to our continued collaborations.
Rueckert’s era as Chair was defined by his dedication to TC’s financial health and future vitality. He is a tireless fundraiser, and played an instrumental role in leading two successful capital campaigns. In addition, he cultivated a robust and committed board, helped to secure two TC presidents, and provided guidance through the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. During his prosperous tenure, the College created the Smith Learning Theater, built smart classrooms, and completed Cowin Auditorium. Rueckert also secured a $10 million gift from the late philanthropist Abby O’Neill in 2011 to establish the Abby M. O’Neill Endowed Fellowship Program and support campus facilities.
During his time on the Board, Rueckert served on multiple committees, including Executive, Audit, Business & Finance, Compensation, Development, Facilities & Public Safety, Investment, Library, and Strategic Innovation, as well as the Committee on Trustees. And as the president of his family’s Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation, he has advanced many generous grants to TC, notably including the Foundation’s 2015 grant for renovations to expand the capacity of the Rita Gold Early Childhood Center, as well as grants to the Cleveland Dodge Professorship and the Susan H. Fuhrman Endowed Scholarship. He continues to serve on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards.
“Bill has been a fearless leader, trusted advisor, and generous supporter of the College since he joined the Board in 1997,” Bailey wrote in an announcement to the community. “As Bill passes the torch to Leslie, let us all take a moment to reflect on how fortunate Teachers College is to have such capable stewards leading us into the future.” A tribute video was one of many accolades presented to Rueckert at a special dinner held in his honor to thank him for his leadership.
In speaking about his family at the College’s 125th anniversary, Rueckert said, “Grace and others recognized that education was the path to a better life for immigrant families, especially young women. If she were here today, she’d be proud to see that her vision has been surpassed in every possible way.”