Donna Dubinsky ’77 will serve as the next senior fellow of the Yale Corporation, succeeding Margaret Marshall LAW ’76, the University announced last week. Additionally, beginning July 1, Annette Thomas GRD ’93 and Lei Zhang SOM ’02 MA ’02 will join the board.

With their terms ending, Marshall and Francisco G. Cigarroa ’79 leave the Corporation on July 1.

University President Salovey said the fellows of the Corporation elected Dubinsky to the senior fellowship, and he expects to speak with her regularly. Dubinsky said she views the role as the “first amongst equals” and the “voice and ears of the Corporation,” adding that the Corporation focuses on governance and being a sounding board for strategic issues.

“Sometimes the Corporation feels unnecessarily remote from the University and students,” Dubinsky said. “I think part of this is just because it is called ‘the Corporation’ instead of the board of directors. I hope to help reduce that distance and make the Corporation more accessible.”

Thomas, an incoming alumni fellow, has devoted her career to cell biology and scientific education. Zhang, an incoming successor trustee, is currently the founder, chair and CEO of Hillhouse Capital Management Group, and donated nearly $9 million to the Yale School of Management in 2014.

Salovey praised both new members for the unique perspectives each will bring, highlighting Zhang’s global leadership and Thomas’s scientific ability.