Columbia president Warrick L. Carter conducted the first meeting of the new President’s Advisory Council this fall. The council is an ad hoc body of leading figures in arts, fashion, and media industries, which will convene periodically to provide real-world counsel to the college about trends and opportunities in its members’ respective arenas of experience.

Members of the council include Peter Aronson, founding partner, Generate Holdings, LLC; Sherry Barrat, president, Personal Financial Services, Northern Trust; A. D. Frazier, chairman of the board/CEO, Danka Business Systems PLC; Catherine Hughes, founder and chair of the board of Radio One; Bill Kurtis, founder and president, Kurtis Productions; Ramsey Lewis, composer, pianist, and three-time Grammy award winner; Virginia Madsen, Oscar-nominated actress; Lewis Manilow, arts philanthropist and advocate, art collector, and real estate developer; Columbia alum Robert McNamara, retired CBS News correspondent; John Morning, president, John Morning Design; Paul Pressler, former president and CEO of The Gap; Gina Rugolo, president, Rugolo Entertainment; and Pamela J. Turbeville, CEO, Navistar Financial Corporation.