Manhattanville University Appoints Chris Lewis ’97 as Chair of the Board of Trustees

Purchase, NY, July 2026 – Manhattanville University is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Lewis ’97 as Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective July 1. A distinguished legal executive and dedicated member of the Manhattanville community, Lewis is a Manhattanville alumnus who has served on Manhattanville’s Board of Trustees since 2014.

“Chris brings strong experience, intellect, and a deep commitment to Manhattanville’s mission to the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees,” said Manhattanville University President Frank Sánchez, PhD. “His leadership will help guide the University as we prepare for strategic planning and continue building on our current momentum into the future.”

Reflecting on his new role, Lewis shared, “It is a tremendous honor to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Manhattanville University. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Trustees and University leadership to advance Manhattanville’s mission and create continued opportunities for our students and community.”

Lewis has decades of leadership experience in legal, compliance, and governance roles. He recently retired as General Counsel at Edward Jones, where he was responsible for overseeing legal services, compliance, and government relations for the firm. In that role, he also served on the firm’s Executive and Management Committees, helping drive strategic initiatives and guiding the organization toward its long-term vision of serving serious individual investors.

Prior to his retirement, Lewis’s tenure at Edward Jones included serving as principal and deputy general counsel, where he provided corporate support on training, contract issues, employment matters, and regulatory guidance. Before joining Edward Jones in 2007, he practiced law with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, LLP. A graduate of Columbia University School of Law and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Lewis is widely recognized in the legal and financial services industries, including his involvement with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) General Counsel Committee.

A committed advocate for community engagement and service, Lewis also serves as Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri and sits on the Boards of the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Missouri Botanical Garden. At Manhattanville University, he has been an active Trustee, chairing the Governance and Nominating Committee and serving on both the Executive and Audit Committees. He also played a key role on the University’s recent Presidential Search Committee and has been a frequent and enthusiastic participant in Commencement ceremonies. Lewis began his professional journey working with children with developmental disabilities. He has been recognized for his contributions to diversity and leadership, including receiving the St. Louis Business Journal’s Diverse Business Leader Award.

As he steps into the role of Board Chair, Lewis succeeds Michael C. Dunn ’77, whose four-year tenure has been marked by transformative leadership and steadfast dedication to the University. Since joining the Board in 2015 and becoming Chair in 2022, Dunn focused on strengthening financial stewardship, ensuring institutional stability, and advancing the University’s long-term success. Under Dunn’s leadership, the Board adopted best practices to enhance governance, including implementing comprehensive assessment tools for Board leadership and the University President. He also oversaw the selection of Manhattanville’s 15^th president, Dr. Frank Sánchez, PhD., as well as significant growth and diversification of the Board, expanding its membership from 17 to 24 Trustees while fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and shared governance.

About Manhattanville University
Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,400 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities, and 23 NCAA Division III teams. For more information, visit mville.edu