Elisabeth M. Armstrong and Jim Brennan appointed Board Co-Chairs

The School of American Ballet has announced the election of Elisabeth M. Armstrong and Jim Brennan as the Co-Chairs of its Board of Directors, effective September 1, 2025. Ms. Armstrong and Mr. Brennan succeed Zita J. Ezpeleta, who has served as SAB’s Board Chair since 2021. Ms. Ezpeleta will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and Chair Emerita.

“We could not be more thrilled to welcome Liz and Jim as our next Board Co-Chairs,” said Carrie Hinrichs, SAB Executive Director, and Jonathan Stafford, Zita Ezpeleta Artistic Director and Chair of Faculty. “All of us at SAB thank Zita for her outstanding contributions to SAB and for her exceptional leadership, under which SAB flourished.”

“I am delighted that Liz and Jim will lead the Board and partner with Jonathan and Carrie for SAB’s next chapter,” commented Ms. Ezpeleta. “Liz and Jim are highly skilled leaders and they are devoted to SAB’s mission to develop world class dancers through the finest training, highest standard of care, and best resources available. SAB will continue to thrive and excel under their guidance.”

An accomplished businesswoman and deeply engaged philanthropist, Elisabeth M. (“Liz”) Armstrong has been affiliated with SAB for the past twenty-two years, joining the Advisory Council in 2003 and the Board of Directors in 2009. She commented, “I am deeply honored to take on this new role at an institution I have come to care for so deeply. Over the past several decades I have been so inspired to witness and support the development of incredible young artists, and I relish this opportunity to partner with Jim in supporting the brilliant work of the school.”

A senior partner and managing director in the New York office of the Boston Consulting Group, Jim Brennan brings a breadth of knowledge from his work advising global consumer companies and private equity firms. A member of SAB’s Board since 2022, Mr. Brennan has provided strategic guidance in the areas of corporate partnerships and brand awareness. He shared, “Working with Liz to help SAB navigate its path forward is both a wonderful opportunity and a great responsibility. SAB represents the gold standard for ballet education, and with Liz as a partner I look forward to doing all we can to support SAB’s artistic and administrative leadership in continuing to realize SAB’s important mission.”

Ms. Ezpeleta and her husband Kewsong Lee endowed the School’s top artistic leadership position, currently held by Mr. Stafford, in 2024, created the Lee and Ezpeleta Advancement Program (LEAP) for Choreography fund to facilitate the new role of Student Choreography Advisor in 2023, and endowed the new position of Professional Placement Manager in 2015—the first of its kind among peer institutions. This fall, SAB will celebrate Ms. Ezpeleta’s most recent gift with the unveiling of the “Serenade Steps” leading to SAB’s new Artistic Health and Wellness Student Center in the Samuel B. and David Rose Building at Lincoln Center.

Elisabeth M. Armstrong and her husband William D. (“Bill”) Armstrong are consummate entrepreneurs—founding both Armstrong Oil & Gas, a wildcatting exploration company located in Denver, CO, and Epoch Estate Wines, an ultra-premium winery with three vineyards in Paso Robles, CA. She also serves as Manager of Armstrong Ventures LLC, a private investment company, and as President of the Armstrong Foundation, which focuses on arts and education philanthropy.

A lifelong lover of ballet, Ms. Armstrong joined SAB’s Advisory Council in 2003 and served as Co-Chair from 2009 to 2017. In 2009, she joined the School’s Board of Directors and over the past sixteen years has held multiple leadership roles, including Board Vice Chair, Board Secretary, Co-Chair of the Development Committee, Nominating Committee Vice Chair, and Chair of the Board Engagement Task Force. Ms. Armstrong’s support of SAB’s mission has included major gifts to fund the Armstrong Apprentice Program and to rename SAB’s largest ballet studio as Armstrong Studio One, as well as the donation of Epoch wines for SAB’s annual fundraising galas.

The Armstrongs were honored with Southern Methodist University’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021. They have made numerous transformative gifts to their alma mater to enhance the student experience—funding the Armstrong Visiting Artist-in-Residence in Ballet in the Meadows School of the Arts and making major gifts towards the expansion of residential and athletic facilities, including the Armstrong Fieldhouse. Ms. Armstrong is a current member and former Chair of SMU’s Dedman College Executive Board, where the Deanship bears her name.

Ms. Armstrong serves on the Board of Trustees of St. Martin’s Episcopal School (Metairie, LA) and the Southwestern Medical Foundation. She is a member of the Executive Advisory Council for the George W. Bush Presidential Center and an emerita Trustee at Westminster School (CT) and Colorado Ballet.

Ms. Armstrong holds a B.S. in Geology from Southern Methodist University. She and her husband Bill divide their time between residences in Dallas and New York City and have three children and nine grandchildren.

Jim Brennan joined The Boston Consulting Group in 2014. A senior partner and managing director in BCG’s New York Office, he is the global leader of the Consumer Private Equity team and has extensive experience in revenue management, go-to-market and due diligence.

Prior to joining BCG, Mr. Brennan was a senior advisor at the Carlyle Group, a partner at McKinsey & Company, and served as a judicial clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Mr. Brennan joined the School of American Ballet’s Board of Directors in 2022. He served as Vice Chair in 2024-25 and as Chair of the Nominating Committee in 2022-23, in addition to serving on the Governance and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committees. His philanthropy to SAB includes naming the Brennan Family Pantry in the new Artistic Health and Wellness Student Center. His philanthropic leadership also includes having served on the boards of the American Academy in Rome and Enactus. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of Diagonal Ventures, Herr Foods, Lemme, Inc., and Just Goods.

Mr. Brennan holds a J.D. from Harvard University and received a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College. He lives in New York City with his wife Katie and their children, Jack, Charlotte, William, and Eloise.