NYU Alumni Connect

October 15, 2017

<< Back

The NYU Alumni Association (NYUAA) represents all NYU alumni, from every NYU school and department—a community more than half-a-million strong. The diverse and active NYUAA Board of Directors is made up of alumni volunteers who steer the Association in their mission to engage and support alumni. Michael Denkensohn (STERN '73) is a founding member and past president of the organization, as well as a member of NYU’s Board of Trustees. 

Michael Denkensohn

Since 2007, Michael has been the Executive Director at Seward & Kissel LLP, a law firm with over 160 attorneys. In that role, he has responsibility for the Firm’s non-legal operations and has functional responsibility for, among other things, the Firm’s finance, human resources, benefits, recruitment, marketing, technology, office operations, and space and facilities. 

From 2000–2007, he was the Executive Director at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. During 1996–2000, he was Global Head of Human Resources and Chief Financial Officer at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, an international law firm. From 1973–1996, he was at Arthur Andersen, where he was both an audit and administrative partner.  

Meet Michael

What is your favorite:

  • Food? Italian
  • Book? Any book written by Harlan Coben
  • TV Show and/or Movie? Patton
  • Song and/or Musical Artist? Billy Joe
  • Way to spend a Saturday? On the golf course
  • Place to travel? The Orient Express—Istanbul to Venice
  • Place on the NYU campus? Washington Square Park
  • What is your favorite memory from your time at NYU?
    Having come from a small town in upstate New York, one of my fondest memories is my walk down Eighth Street toward Sixth Avenue after leaving the Weinstein dormitory located on University Place between Waverly Place and Eight Street Street on my first night in New York City, and experiencing sensory overload because of the noise and the diversity of all of the people whom I encountered while on that walk.
  • Why do you give back to NYU?
    NYU was very good to me; and, my educational experience at NYU helped me achieve a successful professional career. It is my appreciation for these experiences which have created my interest in giving back to NYU over many years.