John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
Lily Sarafan, a Stanford University graduate and co-founder of TheKey, has been elected chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees. Her term will begin on July 1, succeeding Jerry Yang, Yahoo! co-founder and venture capitalist, who has held the position since 2021. Yang will continue to serve on the board.
“It’s the honor of a lifetime to be asked to serve the university and community I love in this capacity,” Sarafan stated. She expressed her enthusiasm for working with President Jon Levin and Provost Jenny Martinez, emphasizing their fresh perspectives on leadership in higher education.
Yang praised Sarafan as “an exceptional choice to lead the board as Stanford navigates the changing landscape of higher education.” He highlighted her intellectual curiosity and involvement across various aspects of university life.
Sarafan aims to strengthen connections between the board and key constituencies at Stanford, focusing particularly on faculty and students. She also looks forward to collaborating with Levin and Martinez to advance Stanford's priorities in discovery and learning.
Born in Tehran and raised in San Jose after immigrating at age two, Sarafan earned both a bachelor’s degree in science, technology, and society, as well as a master’s degree in management science and engineering from Stanford. “Stanford has played a pivotal role in my life,” she remarked.
Her extensive involvement at Stanford includes roles such as co-chairing the Presidential Search Committee that appointed Levin. She is also engaged with several councils including the Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) Council where she serves as vice chair.
In addition to her contributions at Stanford, Sarafan is known for founding Project BIG: The Stanford Brain Immune Gut Initiative alongside Jeffrey Dunn. She has provided significant support through initiatives like Sarafan ChEM-H which advances molecular research for human health.
Sarafan's career achievements include leading TheKey from startup status to employing over 10,000 people by 2020. Her accolades feature recognition by Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list among others.
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