Tuck Welcomes Five New Members to Board of Advisors

New board members are nominated by Dean Matthew J. Slaughter and appointed by the Dartmouth College Board of Trustees. The 40-member Board of Advisors meets twice annually, providing Dean Slaughter as well as Dartmouth leadership with valued counsel and perspective on the strategy and operations of the Tuck School.

“As we continue to celebrate a milestone year for Tuck—our 125th anniversary—it is a special privilege to welcome these distinguished alumni as the newest members our Board of Advisors,” says Dean Slaughter. “Their demonstrated expertise, leadership, and enthusiasm for Tuck’s mission will have a tremendous impact on our success as we look ahead to the next 125 years.”

Each member of the Tuck Board of Advisors is invited to serve up to two consecutive three-year terms. The current chair of the Board of Advisors is Michael Ward T’92 who is managing director, CFO, and COO of Bain Capital, L.L.C.

Meet the newest members of the Tuck Board of Advisors:

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Sara Armbruster T’99

President and CEO, Steelcase Inc. 

Sara Armbruster is president and CEO of Steelcase Inc. Since becoming CEO and joining the company’s Board of Directors in 2021, Steelcase has strengthened its position as the industry leader in supporting workplace transformation across all the places work happens, including offices, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and homes. Armbruster began her business career at McKinsey before joining Steelcase in 2007. She serves on the board of directors at Winnebago Industries and is a member of Business Roundtable. Armbruster also sits on the board of several nonprofits, including Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, the Steelcase Foundation, and Catalyst, a global nonprofit dedicated to building workplaces that work for women. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Slavic languages and literatures from Yale University and a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. 

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Nilesh Undavia T’93

Portfolio Manager, Undavia Family Investment Office

Nilesh Undavia is portfolio manager of Undavia Family Investment Office, where he focuses on deep cyclical industries as well as industry leading companies that have temporarily fallen out of favor. Undavia began his investment career at Wellington Management Co., LLP, in Boston where he started as a global industry analyst before becoming sector portfolio manager, global equity portfolio manager, hedge fund manager, and partner at the firm. During his 25-year tenure at Wellington, Undavia consistently generated superior performance versus benchmarks through market cycles and across products. He was recognized for creating successful new products, and for developing an investment philosophy centered on economic value creation with a rigorous emphasis on risk. Undavia serves as president of the Columbia University Club of South Florida and lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife and three children. 

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Rick Cardenas T’98

President and CEO, Darden Restaurants

Since 2022, Rick Cardenas has served as president and CEO of Darden Restaurants, which owns and operates more than 2,100 Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy’s, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze restaurants in North America. A 35-year veteran of the company, Cardenas began his restaurant career as a busser before moving to Darden’s support center in 1992 as auditor. In the following decades, he went on to serve as president and COO, CFO, and chief strategy officer, among other leadership roles at Darden. Cardenas graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida with bachelor’s degrees in both finance and accounting. He also serves as a board member of Tractor Supply Company.

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Sarah Irving D’10 T’14

Director, Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation

Sarah Irving has held several leadership roles with Irving Oil, most recently serving as executive vice president and chief brand officer, focused on culture, sustainability, innovation, and energy transition. Currently, Sarah is a director of the Arthur and Sandra Irving Foundation and an advisory board member of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society. She is a member of the President’s Board of Advisors at Mass General Brigham and an early investor in the biotech space. She received her bachelor’s of arts degree cum laude from Dartmouth College and also serves as a member of the Dartmouth President’s Leadership Council, the Cancer Center Advisory Board at Massachusetts General Hospital, and the IWK Health Centre Foundation. She lives in Saint John, New Brunswick.

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Gene Lowe T’96

CEO, SPX Technologies

Gene Lowe is president and CEO of SPX Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded company and leading supplier of HVAC and detection and measurement products and technologies. Lowe has been recognized as one of Charlotte’s “Most Admired CEOs” by the Charlotte Business Journal. The company’s market value has increased by more than $8.5 billion or 24x during his tenure as CEO. Prior to joining SPX, Lowe held positions with Milliken & Company, Bain & Company, and Lazard Technology Partners. He currently serves as a director of Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) as well as the Apex Center for Entrepreneurs at Virginia Tech and is involved with several charities and social organizations in the Charlotte area. Lowe received a bachelor’s degree in management science from Virginia Tech and lives in Charlotte with his wife and two children.