Regina M. Pisa has been elected the new chair of Simmons College Board of Trustees. Pisa is chairman of Goodwin Procter LLP, a leading Global 100 law firm. As Simmons’ chair, Pisa will lead the Board of Trustees as it positions the College to meet the challenges for higher education in the 21st century and sets the strategic framework to continue the College’s trajectory towards national prominence.
Pisa succeeds Lauren Brisky, former vice chancellor for administration at Vanderbilt University, who served in the position for six years.
“I’m thrilled Regina will be leading our Board of Trustees,” said Simmons College President Helen Drinan. “She is an exemplary leader and a forceful advocate for providing young women the opportunity for transformative learning that links passion with lifelong purpose. I look forward to working with Regina and the Board as Simmons continues its mission to educate students to live meaningful lives and to build successful careers.”
Pisa is the first woman to lead an AmLaw 100 law firm in the United States and has served as Goodwin Procter’s chairman since 1998, and also as its managing partner until 2012. Under her leadership, Goodwin Procter has grown from 300 lawyers in Boston, to more than 850 lawyers serving clients from eight locations in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Among her many other awards, The American Lawyer recently recognized Pisa’s innovative leadership style and vision for big ideas, naming her one of the “Top 50 Big Law Innovators of the Past 50 Years.” Recognized as a pioneer in advancing leadership for women in the legal and business communities, Pisa has used the power and visibility of her position to dismantle gender and cultural stereotypes, and to facilitate mentorship, business development training and work/life balance for women at Goodwin Procter and in the legal industry.
Her efforts at the firm have been recognized by Working Mother magazine, which has named Goodwin Procter to its exclusive “Best Law Firms for Women” list for the past four consecutive years.