Faculty Type: Advisory Board

Scott Hayward (P’ 22, P’ 25, P’ 25) is the Chief Executive Officer, member of the Board of Directors, and Partner of GMO, a global investment management firm headquartered in Boston. Prior to joining GMO in 2017, Scott served as the CEO and Chairman of Quantitative Management Associates (QMA) for 11 years. Previously, he was Head of Client Relations at QMA and Jennison Associates (both affiliates of Prudential Financial, Inc.). Prior to joining Prudential in 2003, Scott was a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, where he spent 16 years in a variety of roles in investment management, the investment bank, the private bank, and corporate functions. In addition to various corporate boards, Scott has served as the President of the Board of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum and Head of Strategy for the Board of Newark Academy, and he currently serves on the Board of Regents for Boston College and the Executive Advisory Board of Give to the World.

Kristen Farrell (P’26) is an accomplished businesswoman and designer who has been in the luxury home and hospitality industries for over 25 years. She has built a vast portfolio of successful projects in the construction and design fields, including over 250 houses in the Hamptons and a variety of other ventures under the Farrell brand. Her keen knowledge of Hamptons real estate and design acumen have earned her a reputation as a respected industry leader. Kristen has recently expanded the Farrell brand to include the Farrell Design Group, making an imprint in the NYC and Boston hospitality sectors.

Kristen is also a mother of three—Joey, an integrated design student at The New School; Kate, Duke P’26; and Jack, a senior in Southampton High School.

Priya Virmani Rajparia is the owner and founder of Privee by Priya – a personal styling company based in Short Hills, NJ.  Priya founded the business in 2017.  Since starting the business, Priya has helped elevate the style of many C suite executives.  She firmly believes that style is a key element in executive presence and lends to self confidence and success.  Priya is also employed as a stylist by the prestigious Mall at Short Hills.  Prior to starting this business, Priya has worked in financial services for 10+ years.  She has an MBA from Case Western University.  Priya has spent 5 years in Paris with her husband and 2 girls.  She is an avid reader, home chef, traveler, and mah jongg player!

Catherine Forster Connolly is the owner and CEO of Merida,—an American textile design house based in Fall River, MA. Catherine has been the CEO of Merida for 15 years and purchased the company seven years ago. During her tenure, Catherine has led the transformation of the company from an importer of high-end sisal to a design-driven textile company reimagining textile manufacturing in the United States. Prior to Merida, Catherine ran a market research company, Pyramid Research, in the high-tech space for 6 years and worked as head of Research and as an analyst for six years prior to taking over the company’s leadership. Catherine got her MA in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 1995 and graduated with an AB in Comparative Area Studies from Duke University in 1991. Catherine lives in Newton, MA with her husband and her three children.

Daniel W. Drake is the president of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Funds, and chairman of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Fund for Engineering, Technology and Science. From 1967-1998, Dan served as managing director of J.P. Morgan & Co. and continued to consult with the firm until 1999. Dan also served as managing member and chief operating officer of Middlebury Capital Partners LLC from 1999-2001. From 2003-2009, he was the associate publisher of the Nantucket Independent LLC. Dan is currently involved on the boards of a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Linda Loring Nature Foundation and the Nantucket Shellfish Association, serving as president for both organizations. Dan received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Rochester in 1964 and his J.D. from the Albany Law School of Union University in 1967. Dan was admitted to the New York Bar in 1967. He and his wife Judith reside in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Craig Saperstein (T’95) is a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. He assists clients in developing and implementing sophisticated government relations strategies at the federal and state levels that are geared to provide a demonstrable return on investment. Craig lobbies on behalf of corporate, nonprofit, foreign sovereign, and public sector clients in Congress, the Executive Branch, and state and local governments. He represents clients on a variety of policy issues, including financial services, cybersecurity, international trade, veterans, energy, economic development, transportation, and health care matters.