Harold O. Levy
Encyclopedia
Harold O. Levy is best known for having been Chancellor
of New York City
's public schools, and being the last Chancellor elected by an independent Board of Education
. He served for 2½ years during the end of Mayor Rudy Giuliani
's term and the beginning of Mayor Mike Bloomberg's from 2000 to 2002.
Subsequent to becoming Schools Chancellor, he was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Kaplan, Inc.
, a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. He was a member of the senior management team of Kaplan's Higher Education Division, which included over 70 for-profit campuses and an online university with over 60,000 students. Levy was a member of the board of Hesser College
and Kaplan University
, as well as responsible for starting Kaplan University
's online School of Education.
From 1985 to 2000, Levy provided legal advice to Citigroup, Inc. and its predecessors, Traveler's Group, Inc., Salomon, Inc. and Philipp Brothers, Inc. He was the Associate General Counsel and handled special assignments, including serving as Citigrpoup's Director of Global Compliance, Salomon Brothers' Senior Litigation Counsel, and serving as liaison to community groups, including Reverend Jesse Jackson's Rainbow / Push Wall Street Project. During this period, the New York State Legislature elected Levy to be a member of the New York State Board of Regents. Chancellor Ramon Cortines appointed him chair of the New York City Commission on School Facilities and Maintenance Reform.
He currently resides with his wife and two children in New York City. Levy was Managing Director-Special Counsel at Plainfield Asset Management from 2007–2009 and is now Managing Director of Palm Ventures, a firm that makes early stage venture capital investments. He is also a member of the Wilson Council of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
, a trustee of Pace University
, a trustee of Citizens Budget Commission
, a member of Citizens Union Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Roosevelt Institute, the nonprofit partner of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.
He was a member of the 1970 graduating class of the Bronx High School of Science
, where he was President of the Student Organization. He earned a B.S in 1974 from Cornell University
, an M.A. in 1978 from Oxford University, and a J.D. in 1979 from Cornell Law School
. At Cornell, Levy served as a student trustee, chair of the University Senate Executive Committee and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Bard College
, Baruch College
of the City University of New York
and St. Francis College.
New York City School Chancellor
The New York City Schools Chancellor is the leader of the New York City Department of Education, the agency that handles New York City's public schools. The current Chancellor is Dennis M. Walcott, who began his tenure on April 18, 2011 after the resignation of Cathie Black on April 7, 2011...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's public schools, and being the last Chancellor elected by an independent Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
. He served for 2½ years during the end of Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
's term and the beginning of Mayor Mike Bloomberg's from 2000 to 2002.
Subsequent to becoming Schools Chancellor, he was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Kaplan, Inc.
Kaplan, Inc.
Kaplan, Inc. is a for-profit corporation headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1938 by Stanley Kaplan. Kaplan provides higher education programs, professional training courses, test preparation materials and other services for various levels of education...
, a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company. He was a member of the senior management team of Kaplan's Higher Education Division, which included over 70 for-profit campuses and an online university with over 60,000 students. Levy was a member of the board of Hesser College
Hesser College
Hesser College is a for-profit college with several campuses in New Hampshire. It is owned by Kaplan, Inc. The college offers associate and bachelor degrees in the fields of early childhood education, criminal justice, general studies, business and various art programs. The college claims a...
and Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is the "doing business as" name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates for-profit colleges...
, as well as responsible for starting Kaplan University
Kaplan University
Kaplan University is the "doing business as" name of the Iowa College Acquisition Corporation, a company that owns and operates for-profit colleges...
's online School of Education.
From 1985 to 2000, Levy provided legal advice to Citigroup, Inc. and its predecessors, Traveler's Group, Inc., Salomon, Inc. and Philipp Brothers, Inc. He was the Associate General Counsel and handled special assignments, including serving as Citigrpoup's Director of Global Compliance, Salomon Brothers' Senior Litigation Counsel, and serving as liaison to community groups, including Reverend Jesse Jackson's Rainbow / Push Wall Street Project. During this period, the New York State Legislature elected Levy to be a member of the New York State Board of Regents. Chancellor Ramon Cortines appointed him chair of the New York City Commission on School Facilities and Maintenance Reform.
He currently resides with his wife and two children in New York City. Levy was Managing Director-Special Counsel at Plainfield Asset Management from 2007–2009 and is now Managing Director of Palm Ventures, a firm that makes early stage venture capital investments. He is also a member of the Wilson Council of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
, a trustee of Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
, a trustee of Citizens Budget Commission
Citizens Budget Commission
The Citizens Budget Commission is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization that attempts to influence constructive change in the finances and services of New York City and New York State government.-History:...
, a member of Citizens Union Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Roosevelt Institute, the nonprofit partner of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, New York.
He was a member of the 1970 graduating class of the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
, where he was President of the Student Organization. He earned a B.S in 1974 from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, an M.A. in 1978 from Oxford University, and a J.D. in 1979 from Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
. At Cornell, Levy served as a student trustee, chair of the University Senate Executive Committee and was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
, Baruch College
Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
of the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
and St. Francis College.