Contact: Meredith Amor
Director of Communications
PR@Barry.edu
(305) 775-8629
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2020
Barry University to Welcome Eight New Trustees
(MIAMI, FL) Barry University is pleased to announce eight new members of its Board of Trustees. On February 28, 2020 the full Board, following the recommendations from the Committee on Trustees, and with the approval of the Adrian Dominican Sisters General Council, unanimously voted for these appointments.
“We are delighted to welcome these successful, talented and influential leaders to this important role as we build our future together,” said Dr. Mike Allen, Barry’s President. “The depth and breadth of experience on our Board will be a great resource for us as we navigate the challenges all universities are confronting during this global pandemic.”
At the forefront of business, government and civic engagement, these new trustees represent Barry’s mission and core commitments to pursue knowledge and truth, create an inclusive community, seek social justice, and engage in collaborative service in their daily lives. Four members of the incoming group are Barry University alumni.
Terms for these new leaders begin as early as next month.
Terms beginning May 2020
Allyson Maynard Gibson
Allyson Maynard Gibson QC has a long history of public service in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, as Attorney General & Minister of Legal Affairs and in various other private and public sector positions. She is also the past international president of the International Women’s Forum and the Leadership Foundation. In 2019 she was a Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow. Currently, she is a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard T.C. Chan School of Public Health.
Ms. Maynard Gibson is a Barry University alumna and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Melly Sanchez
A dedicated community volunteer, Melly Sanchez devoted years of service to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. She is a recipient of the Women of Faith Award from the Archdiocese of Miami and an active participant in the Catholic community.
Ms. Sanchez is a Barry University alumna.
Linda Perez
Linda Perez is an accomplished attorney and passionate supporter of education. A former partner at Akerman LLP, she litigated a broad range of matters in state and federal courts. She serves the community through several varied and meaningful organizations, including having supervised Haiti disaster relief efforts for Amor En Accion.
Pieter van der Heide
Pieter van der Heide is a wealth management advisor and Senior Vice President at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in New York City. He is a founding member of the BMV Group, a boutique-style banking and investment group within Merrill Lynch. He mentors financial advisors and was recently named by Forbes as one of the “Best-in-State High Net Worth Advisors.”
Mr. van der Heide is a volunteer and committed supporter of Covenant House and other New York City charitable organizations.
Kimberly Topping Morris
Kimberly Topping Morris is a financial services regulatory compliance professional. She currently provides consulting services through her role as an Associate Director in the Risk & Compliance practice at Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Prior to this, she was a Vice President at BankUnited, serving as the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act/Fair Lending Officer. She began her career as an examiner for the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, and previously provided internal audit and compliance consulting services to South Florida financial institutions with Protiviti for several years.
Ms. Morris currently serves on the Board of the Delray Beach Community Land Trust and was a past Advisory Board Member for Archbishop Curley Notre Dame High School, her alma mater.
Terms beginning July 2020
Matt Allen
As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Related Group, Matt Allen oversees all day-to-day operations of the real estate company. He is the recipient of the 2016 Builders Association of South Florida Philanthropist of the Year award.
Mr. Allen also serves on the Boards of the Jackson Health Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, the University of Miami Real Estate Advisory Board and Miami Country Day School. He was the Dade County Chairperson for the Miami 2020 Super Bowl Host Committee and is a member of the Orange Bowl Committee.
Mr. Allen is a Barry University alumnus and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Greta Trotman
Greta Trotman is a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she works in the Financial Services Practice Group. She is a Director and Secretary for the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, where she oversees legal and regulatory matters for the organization.
Ms. Trotman is a Barry University alumna and also serves on the University Alumni Board of Directors.
Term beginning January 2021
Dave Lawrence
Dave Lawrence chairs The Children’s Movement of Florida, a nonprofit advocating for quality education for children. He is the retired publisher of The Miami Herald and an inductee in the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame.
A tireless advocate, Mr. Lawrence has been honored with numerous awards, including the Ida B. Wells Award for “exemplary leadership in providing minorities employment opportunities,” the National Association of Minority Media Executives award for "lifetime achievement in diversity," and the American Public Health Association Award of Excellence. He has 13 honorary doctorates, including one from Barry University.
Mr. Lawrence also serves on the Boards of the Everglades Foundation and Americans for Immigrant Justice and is a life member of the University of Florida Foundation. He is a gubernatorial appointee to the Florida A&M University Board of Trustees.