Yale Bulletin and Calendar

February 29, 2008|Volume 36, Number 20

Lorimer lauded for contributions
to corporate boards

Linda K. Lorimer, vice president and secretary of the University, has been honored with the 2008 Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award for her contributions to the advancement of women lawyers as corporate directors.

The Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award recognizes women lawyers who have served with distinction as independent directors of public companies and advanced diversity in board positions. Lorimer was cited for her achievements while serving on corporate boards.

The award is presented by DirectWomen — a program of the American Bar Association (ABA), ABA Section of Business Law and Catalyst Inc. — and is named for retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.

“As secretary of the Yale Corporation, Linda Lorimer has made major contributions to improving the University’s governance policies and practices,” says President Richard C. Levin. “She has helped to clarify the fiduciary responsibilities of Yale’s trustees, and to make their oversight much more effective. It is therefore no surprise to see her honored for extraordinary contributions to the corporate boards she serves. As all who have worked with her know, Linda brings valuable ideas and insights to every group discussion.”

One of the boards on which Lorimer serves is that of The McGraw Hill Companies, a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets. In her work for McGraw-Hill, Lorimer is noted for her dedication to mentoring other women, according to Harold McGraw III, chair, president and chief executive officer.

“Linda’s unique insight, commitment to our shareholders’ interests and dedication to proactively supporting women attorneys makes her a most deserving recipient of this award,” he says. “Linda is a true leader who has directly contributed to The McGraw-Hill Companies’ success.

“Linda’s enthusiasm for supporting women, rooted in her past experience as a women’s college president, is contagious — and especially inspiring to our senior-level women executives,” adds McGraw.

Lorimer has served as a member of the board of directors of The McGraw-Hill Companies since 1994 and as presiding director since 2004. She is also chair of the corporation’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Prior to assuming her current role at Yale in 1994, Lorimer was president of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Virginia. She has also served on the Yale Corporation, the University’s governing board.

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