Manhattanville University Welcomes Three New Members to its Board
Grace Butler, Karina Frayter, and Peter Lorenz join the Manhattanville Board of Trustees,
bringing Expertise in Business, Branding, and Education
PURCHASE, NY, June 2024—Manhattanville University announced the appointment of three Board members: Grace Butler, Karina Frayter, and Peter Lorenz. The additions to the Board come on the heels of Manhattanville’s recent announcement of elevated status as a university.
Michael Dunn, Chair of the Manhattanville Board of Trustees, praised the new members, saying they bring a wealth of experience in business, branding, and educational leadership to Manhattanville's already robust Board.
“As Manhattanville University steps into a new era of academic excellence and innovation,
I am thrilled to welcome Grace Butler, Karina Frayter, and Peter Lorenz to our Board
of Trustees,” said Dunn. “They are joining a group of Trustees who care deeply about
Manhattanville and are dedicated to elevating our university to unprecedented heights.
The diverse expertise and demonstrated visionary leadership of the newest Board members
are the perfect addition to this effort to ensure a bright future for our beloved
institution.”
Dunn noted that two of the new members are alums of the institution.
President Frank D. Sánchez, Ph.D., also welcomed the new board members.
"I am always impressed by the passion and dedication of the Manhattanville Board of Trustees members," said Dr. Sánchez. "With their wealth of personal and professional experiences, the newest members will be invaluable in helping to guide Manhattanville to the next level. I am grateful for them dedicating their time and knowledge while helping us fulfill our mission to educate ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community."
The new board members began their terms in May, joining the existing Board of Trustees in shaping Manhattanville’s mission, guiding the university’s institutional goals, and overseeing university leadership.
Manhattanville announced its new university status in April, a recognition of the breadth and depth of its academic offerings. This is the latest evolution of the nearly 200-year-old institution. The university was recently awarded two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to enhance Sport Studies and humanities programs. New York State recently awarded nearly $1 million to the Manhattanville School of Education for teacher preparation programs. Manhattanville was recently approved to award the federal TEACH Grant, providing up to $4,000 yearly for education students. This fall semester, Manhattanville is introducing two new majors: a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in education and a degree in Cybersecurity. Additionally, the university will offer new majors, including Social and Criminal Justice, Global Justice and Human Rights, and a new online B.S. in Imaging Leadership for radiologic technicians.
Joining Manhattanville’s Board of Trustees are:
Grace Butler (Manhattanville ’64)
After graduating from Manhattanville in 1964, where she majored in French, Grace Butler
entered the Society of the Sacred Heart and earned a master's in religion there in
1967. She taught at the Convent of the Heart in NYC from 1968-1971, made her final
vows in Rome in 1972, and worked in Washington D.C. until 1984, including a term as
president of the Board of Education for the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of
Washington. During this time, she focused on teaching religion and French. Sr. Butler
also earned a master's in psychology from Catholic University and a master’s degree
in educational leadership from the University of Notre Dame. From 1984 to 2013, she
worked at Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, NJ. In 2013,
she obtained TESOL certification at Westchester Community College, where she then
served as an adjunct faculty member, teaching ESL from 2014 to 2019. Sr. Butler resides
in Bedford, NY.
Karina Frayter (Manhattanville ’01)
Ms. Frayter is a strategic communications executive with extensive experience protecting and advancing company brands. Most recently, she was vice president of public relations at XPO, a freight transportation services provider, where she led external communications and stakeholder engagement. Previously, she led corporate and financial communications at Macy's, Inc. and was a senior managing director at R.F. |Binder, advising companies and non-profits globally. Ms. Frayter began her career in journalism, covering business news for outlets including CNN and CNBC. Her expertise includes navigating high-profile situations like shareholder activism and management changes. Ms. Frayter has served on non-profit boards at the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture and Right 2 Thrive. Ms. Frayter holds a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Manhattanville, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is also a member of the Page Society's Page Up program for senior communications leaders. Ms. Frayter has three sons and lives in Greenwich, CT, with her husband, Slava.
Peter Lorenz
Peter Lorenz is the CEO of Albuquerque, NM-based Unirac Inc., a leading manufacturer
of mounting structures for rooftop and ground-based solar energy systems. A native
of Germany, Mr. Lorenz has 26 years of executive experience in the solar and energy
sectors in the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Lorenz first came to the U.S. at 17 to study at
Carrollton Central High School. He earned a dual B.A. in European business administration
from Germany's Reutlingen University and Middlesex in London. His career began in
1996 as a finance manager for Royal Dutch Shell in London. There, Mr. Lorenz had his
first foray into solar energy after Shell announced a new $500 million investment
in renewable technology, constructing what was at that time the world's largest solar
module manufacturing plant. After earning an MBA from Harvard in 2001, he joined McKinsey
& Co. in Houston, TX, consulting for the electric power and renewable energy industries.
In 2011, he became CEO of Unirac. Mr. Lorenz is a founding board member of Solare
Collegiate Charter School, a middle school in the South Valley of Albuquerque, and
Board Chair-Elect of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, where he has focused
much of his energy on supporting improvements in K-12 and college education. Mr. Lorenz
lives in Los Ranchos, NM with his wife, Dawn, and their two children.
About Manhattanville University
Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. For three years in a row, “U.S. News and World Report” has ranked Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution in New York among Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. 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 primarily residential and diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,300 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, creative writing, and 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 22 NCAA Division III teams.
Contact:
Cara Cea, cara.cea@mville.edu, 914-323-1278 or 914-906-9680.
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