Robert M. Bass Returns to Stanford's Board of Trustees

"We are extraordinarily fortunate to be welcoming Bob Bass back to the board," said Steven A. Denning, chair of the Board of Trustees.

"It is seldom that we have an opportunity to add a trustee who has such a long-term commitment to the university and who has such extensive experience with this institution, having served as a trustee for 22 years and as chairman for four years. We welcome the broad perspective and deep knowledge of Stanford and higher education that he will bring to our board deliberations."

An active Stanford volunteer, Bass was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1989. He served from 1989 to 2001, and was chairman of the board from 1996 to 2000. He rejoined the Board of Trustees in 2002 and served until 2012.

During his tenure on the board, he advised three Stanford presidents: John Hennessy, Gerhard Casper and Donald Kennedy.

He is a director of the Stanford Management Company (SMC), which oversees the university's endowment. He was a founding director of the SMC board in 1991, and served as chairman of the board from 2000 to 2004.

Bass also is a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, and has helped to both plan and fund the school's highest priorities. He chaired the school's master planning and building committees.

In addition, Bass is a trustee of the Brookings Institution, Rockefeller University, the Amon Carter Museum and Middlesex School. Bass is a past chair of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Cook Children's Medical Center in Texas.

Bass, who earned a bachelor's degree in economics at Yale University in 1971, earned an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1974.

Bass and his wife, Anne T. Bass (MLA '07), have been active leaders in six major Stanford fundraising campaigns, including the Centennial Campaign, which ended in early 1992, and their co-chairmanship of the Campaign for Undergraduate Education, which concluded in 2005. In the current Campaign for Stanford Medicine, Bass is involved in planning the new Stanford Hospital.

The Stanford Alumni Association recently announced that the couple will receive the Degree of Uncommon Man and Uncommon Woman, the university's highest honor for rare and extraordinary service.

Kathleen Sullivan authors articles for the Stanford News Service.