Three new trustees elected to William & Mary Foundation’s governing board
October 29, 2024
By
Jacob A. Miller ’18
The William & Mary Foundation (WMF) announced the election of three new members to the organization’s governing body, the Board of Trustees. The new members, who began their first three-year terms on Oct. 18, 2024, are Darcy Curran ’87, P ’24, Maisie K. O’Flanagan ’89 and Will Haden Payne II ’01.
“It is a privilege to welcome Darcy, Maisie and Will to the William & Mary Foundation Board,” said WMF Chief Executive Officer Matthew T. Lambert ’99. “Their leadership and insights will be instrumental as we work to secure a strong and vibrant future for the Alma Mater of the Nation. I’m honored to work with each of them in their new leadership roles, and I’m confident their impact will resonate across the university community.”
Six members of the board concluded their nine-year tenures: Dawn Mansfield Aaron ’80, M.B.A. ’82, Clifford B. Fleet III ’91, M.A. ’93, M.B.A. ’95, J.D. ’95, Jody Forsyth HON ’22, P ’15, Shelley Goode P ’15, Penelope “Penny” Harper Meredith ’73, P ’01 and J. Scott Perkins ’89.
“I am truly grateful to all six of our retiring trustees for their invaluable service on the board,” said Janet Rollins Atwater ’84, P ’17, P ’20, chair of the WMF Board of Trustees. “Our Foundation exists to uplift our entire W&M family, and each of the retiring members have been instrumental in helping us lay the groundwork for a bright future ahead.”
The William & Mary Foundation is an independent organization that raises private funds to support the priorities of the university. The WMF’s defining and essential mission is to support the university’s people and programs. By seeking private support, and then diligently managing those funds, the WMF advances and furthers the work of William & Mary’s students and faculty — providing vital resources for scholarships, professorships, research and program funding.
Incoming William & Mary Foundation Trustees
Darcy Curran ’87, P ’24
Curran serves as chief executive officer of Highline Warren and as a member of the company’s board of directors, overseeing financial, strategic and commercial outcomes. He joined Highline Warren’s predecessor company, Highline Aftermarket, as president and CEO in September 2016. He maintained his role as CEO following the combination of Highline Aftermarket and Warren Distribution in 2020. Under Curran’s leadership, Highline Warren has experienced exponential growth — the company’s revenue has soared from less than $400 million in 2016 to nearly $2 billion in 2024.
With more than 35 years of experience in operational optimization, Curran has extensive knowledge of distribution operations and supply chain management, as well as a demonstrated ability to successfully drive commercial and customer-focused objectives. He is also an active leader in the industry serving on the board of advisors for MEMA, an association that champions the needs of companies in the automotive aftermarket and original equipment supplier space. Prior to Highline Warren, Curran spent 29 years at Ferguson Enterprises, where he oversaw segments of their business in Colorado, New England, the Washington, D.C./Baltimore region and Canada. He finished his Ferguson career as a senior vice president.
Darcy received a B.A. in English from William & Mary in 1987 and continues to have strong ties to the university and its soccer program. His long time service to Tribe Athletics has been instrumental to the success of the Tribe, especially during the All In campaign. He currently lives in Tennessee with his wife, Dr. Suzanne Eacker Curran ’88. They have three grown children: Bailey, Ella and Aiden Curran ’24, M.A. ’25.
Maisie K. O’Flanagan ’89
O’Flanagan is a philanthropic advisor and social impact accelerator for philanthropists, foundations and investors. She is a former senior advisor, partner and co-founder of McKinsey’s social sector practice. She led the firm’s philanthropy and K-12 education practices, in addition to serving many technology and finance institutions. O’Flanagan has been involved in a broad range of philanthropic, social impact and nonprofit organizations — including seven of the 10 largest philanthropic foundations — and was the primary advisor for the launch of two of the largest foundations in the U.S. and merger of a third. She has authored publications on the social capital markets, scaling nonprofit initiatives and the philanthropic sector.
Prior to McKinsey, O’Flanagan was a senior leader for Jobs for the Future, where she drove educational reform and workforce development in school districts and states across the U.S. Additionally, she was a nonprofit founder and teacher.
Maisie holds a B.A. from William & Mary and both an MBA and M.Ed. from Harvard University. She is a former lacrosse and soccer player and currently sits on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Board of Advisors, the William & Mary Athletics Foundation Board, the Atherton Aquatics Board and the Fit Kids Board. An avid skier and tennis player, O’Flanagan resides in Atherton, California, with her husband and two children.
Will H. Payne II ’01
Payne is managing partner of Coalfield Strategies, driving new business investment in energy communities throughout Southwestern Virginia. Over the last five years, his work has resulted in nearly 800 new jobs with technology, manufacturing and energy companies. As a co-founder of Energy DELTA Lab, he is managing a portfolio of large-scale clean energy generation and demand projects as part of a 65,000-acre development targeting over a gigawatt of activity on reclaimed coal mined properties. He previously spent two decades developing bipartisan coalitions for over a dozen Virginia political candidates on both sides of the aisle, primarily governors and U.S. senators. Payne is also co-founder of Squabble State Hard Cider & Spirits near downtown Bristol, Virginia, a destination hard cidery, distillery and apple orchard offering sweeping mountain views of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
He serves on the GO Virginia Region One Council and as chair of the William & Mary Real Estate Foundation Board of Directors. He previously served as vice rector of W&M’s Board of Visitors for two terms, chairing its Administration, Buildings and Grounds Committee. He also previously served as a member of the W&M Annual Giving Board of Directors.
Payne earned a B.A. in Public Policy from William & Mary and a Global Executive M.B.A from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. While at William & Mary, he played goalie for the university’s club ice hockey team and later launched its booster club. He is the author of “Mark Warner the Dealmaker: From Business Success to the Business of Governing,” a biography of former Governor of Virginia and U.S. Senator Mark Warner, detailing lessons in leadership at the intersection of business and politics.
Retiring William & Mary Foundation Trustees
Dawn Mansfield Aaron ’80, M.B.A. ’82
A WMF trustee since 2015, Aaron’s guidance has strengthened the university’s strategic and philanthropic success, notably through her work on the Development Strategy Committee and Scholarships & Student Experience Committee. Her career spans over 30 years in the financial services and real estate sectors, where she has held leadership roles across energy, insurance and technology, including as chair of SBP Capital Corporation. Aaron has inspired countless students and alumni with her service and expertise. Her impact extends beyond William & Mary, with significant contributions to conservation, human rights and education. She has served on the boards of the National Geographic Society, Conservation International and the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, and she has advised the George W. Bush Institute and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Her generosity to William & Mary and her advocacy for global causes have created lasting ripple effects for future generations.
Clifford B. Fleet III ’91, M.A. ’93, M.B.A. ’95, J.D. ’95
Fleet has been a steadfast leader at William & Mary, serving as chair of the WMF Board of Trustees from 2021 to 2023 and as a trustee since 2015. Under his leadership, the WMF strengthened governance, refined funding models and prepared for the university’s next major fundraising campaign. His tenure also saw the restoration of the historic Williamsburg Bray School, a key collaboration between William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg, where he serves as president and CEO. Fleet’s distinguished career includes senior roles at Philip Morris USA, SIR and biotech firm 22nd Century Group Inc. He is recognized for his leadership in both business and civic engagement, receiving the W&M Prentis Award in 2022 for his contributions to Williamsburg and beyond. In addition to his leadership roles, Fleet teaches at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business and contributes to the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture and the Virginia Business Higher Education Council. Along with his wife, Fran Zemmel, he has generously supported scholarships, athletics, the Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved and more. Fleet’s lasting impact on William & Mary is a testament to his dedication and philanthropy.
Jody Forsyth HON ’22, P ’15
A member of the WMF Board of Trustees since 2015, Forsyth has provided strategic guidance across key areas, including serving as chair of the Scholarships & Student Experience Sub-Committee. His efforts have galvanized support for scholarships, a top university priority and a personal passion. His involvement spans numerous roles, including vice chair of the Investments Committee and member of the Executive Committee, Budget & Finance, and Development Strategy Committees. He also applied his professional expertise as a member of the 1693 Partners Fund Board. As co-founder and managing partner of Annapolis Capital, Forsyth brought his years of experience in private equity and energy start-ups to his service at William & Mary. He has also shared his knowledge as an instructor at William & Mary Law School. His dedication to the university grew even deeper when his daughter, Sam, graduated with a history degree in 2015 and a J.D. in 2018. Forsyth’s philanthropy, including the Forsyth Family Scholarship and WMSURE program, has transformed the lives of students. Forsyth will continue to serve as a member of the William & Mary Real Estate Foundation Board of Directors. In recognition of his contributions to the Alma Mater of the Nation, he was named an honorary alumnus in 2022.
Shelley Goode P ’15
Goode has been an influential leader at William & Mary since joining the WMF as a trustee in 2015. As chair of the Scholarships & Student Experience Sub-Committee and a member of the Development Strategy Committee, she has been instrumental in shaping the future of scholarships and student support at the university. With over 30 years of experience in advancing women’s empowerment, STEM education, poverty mitigation and veteran reintegration, Goode has held senior leadership roles at the AARP Foundation, the Girl Scouts of the USA and the KIPP Foundation, where she focused on increasing diversity and inclusion for low-income students. She also brings experience from Oxfam America, Volunteers of America and Spelman College, among others. Her personal philanthropy supports William & Mary’s Scholarships Impact Fund, the Career Center Student Internship Fund, and the Dress to Impress Program. As the parent of an alumnus, Andrew Bryant ’15, she has contributed to the Parents Fund and continues her commitment to the university through a planned gift. Goode’s dedication to service and excellence is evident in every role she undertakes, making her a strong advocate for the William & Mary community.
Penelope “Penny” Harper Meredith ’73, P ’01
Meredith has been a dedicated advocate for William & Mary since joining the WMF Board of Trustees in 2015. A member of a family with deep roots at the university, she has advanced the institution’s mission through her leadership and philanthropy. Through the Harper Family Scholarship and the Meredith Family Scholarship, she has created opportunities for students with financial need, leaving a lasting impact on their lives. Meredith’s engagement extends beyond scholarships. She has been a driving force in regional alumni engagement, particularly as a member of the For the Bold regional campaign committee for South Hampton Roads. In 2019, she and her husband, Peter Meredith HON ’22, P ’01, co-hosted a campaign celebration at the Chrysler Museum of Art, where they announced the doubling of their family’s scholarship endowment. Meredith’s holistic approach to supporting the university includes contributions to W&M Athletics, student wellness and the arts. She was recently appointed to the board of the Muscarelle Museum. Penny and Peter have also chaired the Parent & Family Council, strengthening ties between the university and W&M families. Her love for William & Mary is evident in all she does, enriching the university community in countless ways.
J. Scott Perkins ’89
Perkins has served as a WMF trustee since 2015, where he has held appointments on the Athletics Sub-Committee, Investments Committee and the 1693 Partners Fund Board, playing a key role in the university’s financial success and strategic growth. With a B.B.A. in accounting from William & Mary and a J.D. from Washington and Lee University, Perkins began his career at Coopers & Lybrand LLP before moving into corporate law at Mays & Valentine LLP. His expertise spans finance, technology and law, contributing to his success as an original principal and Executive Committee member at Lighthouse Investment Partners, where he expanded the firm’s global client base. His leadership has been instrumental at William & Mary, particularly during the pandemic, when he helped guide the athletics program through financial challenges. His strategic insight also led to record-setting investment growth and the successful conclusion of the All In campaign. A generous philanthropist, Perkins and his wife, Whitney, have supported W&M Football and its facilities, enhancing the student-athlete experience. Their hospitality and commitment to the Tribe community further demonstrate his profound dedication to his alma mater and its future.