Q&A with Academy Board Member Tom Franco
Published January 30, 2025
Tom Franco is a Senior Advisor with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and is also a member of the Board of Governors for The New York Academy of Sciences. With an extensive background in law, business, entrepreneurship, and teaching, he brings a valuable perspective to the Board. We spoke with him to learn more about his background, what motivates him, and why he chose to get involved with the Academy.
*some quotes have been edited for length and clarity
What does being a member of the Academy’s Board mean to you?
It means a great deal because The New York Academy of Sciences is involved in really important initiatives advancing technology, innovation, scientific knowledge in society, and even in politics, which are central issues of our time. So having a front row seat on that is intellectually stimulating. But it’s also gratifying to be part of shaping the future through the network of thought leaders that The New York Academy of Sciences convenes and assembles.
How did you first come to be interested in the Academy’s work?
The New York Academy of Sciences is a legendary organization with a storied past. It has included some of the most important figures in science and related disciplines, such as Margaret Mead and Thomas Jefferson. It is definitely an organization that people know about. In particular, the appointment of Nick Dirks as Chief Executive Officer was the magnet for me. I know Nick, and was so pleased to see him take the reins of leadership given his eclectic background. He is a Renaissance man, and I think that the Academy appeals to Renaissance people.
How does your personal and professional background inform your work with and commitment to the Academy?
I come from an eclectic background. I have experience teaching and being an entrepreneur, which includes successfully starting several businesses. Additionally, I have been in the investment business and have supported big, innovative, change-the-world types of investments. I am also a divinity school student, and so I’m very interested in the linkage between science and faith and the shared sense of truth.
So, all of these personal experiences and professional experiences create a stew which is, I think, relevant to what the Academy is trying to accomplish in the largest sense, especially that shared sense of truth. The Academy provides complementary perspectives on what is changing the world, what is likely to change the world, and promoting what I might describe as human flourishing. Going to the Science Salons or other Academy events or even sitting around the Board of Governors table with the people that you interact with, you cannot help but be filled with wonder and awe. This is much like how science often leads to such inspiring results.
Is there one particular academy program or initiative gets you especially excited? What would that be? And why?
I love the recognition of the young scientists as exemplified by the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. These awards recognize professors that are hitting their prime. They’re all academically brilliant, and they’re laboring away. Everybody likes to be recognized, and I think they deserve a chance at the limelight.
I’m also impressed with the Academy’s educational initiatives. These efforts effectively inspire younger people. Bringing the magic of science and the secret power of science to school-aged kids is really worthwhile as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
The Academy’s mission has never been more important, particularly during a time when trust in science can no longer be taken for granted.
“The Academy’s mission has never been more important, particularly during a time when trust in science can no longer be taken for granted.”
TOM FRANCO
SENIOR ADVISOR, CLAYTON, DUBILIER & RICE, LLC
BOARD MEMBER, THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
