Richard Baum Joins Academy as C.O.O.

NEW YORK – Ellis Rubinstein, president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, today announced that Richard Baum, formerly secretary to the Governor of New York and chief of staff in the New York State Attorney General's Office, has joined the Academy as its first chief operating officer.

In his new role, Mr. Baum will oversee the day-to-day administration and management of the Academy and participate in setting and implementing its strategic direction. The appointment will free Mr. Rubinstein to spend more time promoting the mission of the institution, reaching out to its many constituencies and establishing local and global partnerships.

"The Academy's unique capacity to catalyze partnerships that can advance science and economic competitiveness is now being recognized throughout the world," Mr. Rubinstein explained. "With special responsibilities to New York, a membership of 25,000 in 140 countries and new partner institutions in many of the world's major cities, the Academy needs its CEO to focus on expanding its outreach and a COO to provide the senior staff the leadership they deserve."

John Sexton, president of NYU, who is the board chair of The New York Academy of Sciences, said: "Richard Baum has demonstrated enormous talents as a manager and team builder, working within large and complex organizations to build consensus and provide leadership and support for fellow executives and staff. The Academy's Governors look forward to his contribution and believe he will be an asset to the Academy as we pursue the ambitious agenda Ellis Rubinstein and the board have set."

Mr. Baum, 39, served as secretary to the Governor from January 2007 until Gov. Spitzer's resignation in March 2008. From November 1998 to December 2006, he was chief of staff to then Attorney General Spitzer, a role in which he oversaw the daily operations of a 1,500-employee state agency and implemented the strategy under which the office became a national leader on issues related to labor, healthcare, investor protection, the environment and consumer affairs. Prior to that, he was campaign manager for Mr. Spitzer's run to become Attorney General, joining that effort early in 1998. Mr. Baum began his career in public service in 1993 when at the age of 24 he was elected to the Orange County legislature. His four-year term ended in 1997.Mr. Baum, a native of Orange County, is a 1992 graduate of Cornell University.

About the New York Academy of Sciences

The New York Academy of Sciences is the third-oldest scientific association in the United States, having been founded in New York in 1817. An independent, nonprofit organization, the Academy is the only global academy of science. Its core missions are to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large.

Contact: Bill Silberg, 212-298-8646, bsilberg@nyas.org.