Meet the New Chair

The Free Press sits down with The New School’s chairman of the Board of Trustees

Joseph Gromek, the newly elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees, has a reputation as a turnaround man. As CEO of the Warnaco Group apparel corporation, Gromek managed one of the most acclaimed rescues in the recent history of the fashion industry.

Just two months before Gromek took over Warnaco in April 2003, the company had exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Gromek proceeded to expand the group internationally, turning it into one of the world’s leading retail organizations, manufacturing and licensing celebrated brands like Calvin Klein and Speedo. In February 2013, a year after Gromek’s departure, apparel giant PVH acquired Warnaco for $2.8 billion.

Six months into his new job at The New School, Gromek feels poised to face the challenges ahead. Gromek is confident that he can help the university expand as it faces its financial difficulties. Declining enrollment and high tuition, Gromek said, are the two primary dangers facing The New School.

According to its bylaws, the Board of Trustees provides advice and counsel to the leadership of the University. They review and monitor the institution’s fiscal situation, including programs, budgets, endowments and resources.

Sitting down for an interview with the Free Press on a recent Friday afternoon, Gromek spoke like a man who has been in the business world for a long time: professional, articulate and concise.  At 66, he does not look ready for retirement and his work in the fashion industry is apparent from his attire. At the interview, he paired a blue and white checkered button-down shirt, a green sweater, as well as gray slacks and brown loafers. From a young age, he said he wanted to work in the menswear industry. Gromek began his career in a training program at Lord & Taylor, and moved on to work with numerous prominent retailers, such as Ann Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Limited Inc. From 1996 to 2002, he served as the CEO for clothing retailer Brooks Brothers, Inc.

He has been involved with The New School since 2005, when following his combined interest in fashion and education, he joined the Parsons’ Board of Governors. In 2001, Gromek became a Trustee at the University.

Gromek feels his ability to work collaboratively in a corporate setting will help him in his new position at the university. “One of the reasons that the trustees actually initiated my movement to becoming the chair was my background in business and having been a CEO of two companies,” he said. “I’m accustomed to running large institutions.”

Gromek hopes to find solutions to the University’s most urgent problems.

“I think the more we tend to raise tuition today is offset by financial aid, so it’s a zero-sum game,” said Gromek when asked about the universities rising tuition costs.

Gromek added that he thinks The New School is “ahead of the curve,” noting that the issues The New School faces are national problems and praised President David Van Zandt for recognizing the realities of higher education.

“He has immediately been very helpful on a number of problems, and has had a very smooth transition into The New School,” Van Zandt said in a recent interview with the Free Press.

Since 2008, students have pushed for the Board of Trustees to include a student representative. Gromek said that while he supports the idea of greater transparency, he is unsure how to include student participation.

“I think having student involvement is a real positive thing,” Gromek said. “How we do that remains to be finalized, but I do believe that there should be student participation at every meeting.”

Gromek currently serves on five company and five non-profit boards, but he admitted his position on the The New School’s Board takes up the most of his time — more than he at first expected.

Throughout his interview, Gromek maintained a formal demeanor, but he grew animated when describing annual ski trips to Vail, Colorado with his wife and 14-year-old son. He slipped into a happy tangent about music and attending concerts with his son with artists as varied as Skrillex, Frank Ocean and “The Big Four” pioneers of thrash metal: Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer.

“He is keeping me active,” Gromek said with a smile.