Rich Baum is Chief of Staff to the President, where he supports the President and senior leadership of the University on a wide range of strategic issues. He is a conduit through which members of the community—trustees, faculty, students, and staff—can communicate with the president, and is responsible for ensuring progress on major University-wide initiatives.
Rich has devoted his career to managing complex organizations in the public and non-profit sectors, including in the spheres of public policy, academia, and research. Rich began his career in public service as the youngest member in the history of the Orange County Legislature, serving as minority leader from 1994-97. Rich went on to serve in New York State government, first as Chief of Staff in the Office of the New York State Attorney General, followed by a tenure as Secretary to the Governor (the governor’s senior-most advisor and chief of staff). Prior to joining NYU in 2011, Rich was Chief Operating Officer at the New York Academy of Sciences, one of the oldest scientific academies in the country.
Rich earned his B.A. degree in history from Cornell University.
