Jaffe to cultivate partnerships between Graham School, civic and cultural institutions

Kineret Jaffe, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, has accepted the position of Director of Cultural and Civic Partnerships and Affiliations in the University’s Graham School of General Studies.

In this position, Jaffe has been charged with leveraging the University’s existing relationships with leading cultural and civic institutions to develop and implement programs and events in partnership with those organizations. She also will work toward creating new relationships with civic and cultural institutions the University has not previously partnered with on programmatic initiatives.

Jaffe said these goals are, “an outgrowth of the strategic vision that President Zimmer has been articulating. He has developed a set of 10 strategic initiatives that he first presented to the Board of Trustees in September. One of those initiatives focuses on leveraging and affiliations, and he asked then if there might be ‘opportunities for affiliating with other institutions that hold great promise for the University.’ ”

The University already has strong relationships with most of the leading cultural institutions in Chicago, Jaffe said. Those institutions include the Field Museum, whose provost is a University faculty member, as well as the Adler Planetarium, where many employees similarly have University ties, she said. The Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Newberry Library and the Lyric Opera are among others with whom the University shares a strong relationship.

“We also want to think about our connection to activities such as the Chicago Humanities Festival. Outside of Chicago, there are institutions in New York, Washington, Aspen and elsewhere, where we have had strong ties—I would like to develop stronger partnerships,” Jaffe said.

Daniel Shannon, Dean of the Graham School, said he welcomed Jaffe’s experience and leadership.

“I am delighted by Kineret’s decision to join the Graham School. Her leadership in the development of cultural and civic partnerships creates an exciting new emphasis for the school. Her rich experience and working knowledge of the University augurs well for our efforts in developing with the University new, mutually beneficial relationships with some of the country’s major cultural and civic organizations,” Shannon said.

Jaffe has served as Secretary of the University’s Board of Trustees since 1995. She received an A.M. in General Studies in the Humanities in 1974, and a Ph.D. in History of Culture in 1982. After receiving her Ph.D., she worked for several years at the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, D.C. She returned to the University in 1987 and became Director of the University’s Centennial Office, spearheading the University’s yearlong 100th birthday party during the 1991-1992 academic year. Jaffe also served as Secretary of the Faculties from 1993 to 1995.

In announcing Jaffe’s appointment, President Zimmer wrote, “The relationships Kineret has developed and her extensive knowledge of the University and Chicago community will be of great value in strengthening our existing affiliations and forging new partnerships to enhance the visibility and reach of the University.”

Jaffe’s appointment is effective following the March meeting of the Board of Trustees.