New College Foundation Appoints Three to Board of Directors

The New College Foundation, the philanthropic organization supporting New College of Florida, announces the appointment of three people to its board of directors.
Alison Gardner is a senior vice president and financial advisor with RBC Wealth Management, managing $125 million in assets. Before choosing RBC, Alison worked for 33 years at Morgan Stanley and its predecessor firms, and as a finance analyst at Celanese Corporation, after stints at both U.S. and international publishing firms.
Gardner received her MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and her Certificat d’Etude from La Sorbonne in Paris. She received a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Duke University.
Gardner is a Big Sister with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. She sits vigils for Tidewell Hospice and has a weekly shift in the Sarasota Hospice House. She relishes spending time with her husband, Jan, with whom she served as co-chairs of New College’s Clambake event in 2017. She and Jan enjoy their standard poodle puppy, Emma, and visiting children and grandchildren.
Dr. Raymonda “Ray” Burgman is a director of HERS Institutes. HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) is dedicated to creating and sustaining a community of women leaders and advocating gender equity in higher education. Dr. Burgman leads the planning and delivery of the three signature HERS programs for leadership development for women in higher education.
Burgman served as associate provost at New College of Florida from 2011 to 2013, where her responsibilities included student academic success programs in collaboration with Alumnae/i Affairs, Enrollment Services, and Student Affairs. She also assisted with faculty development, served as a resource for diversity efforts, worked on assessment and accountability issues, and assisted the provost with external relations.
Previously, Burgman was an associate professor of economics and management and special advisor to the president at DePauw University. At DePauw she also served as assistant dean in academic affairs and the program coordinator for the national Consortium for Faculty Diversity. Burgman received her doctorate in economics from the University of Florida and her bachelor’s degree from New College. She has served on the New College Alumnae/i Association Board, and lives in Denver.
George I. Augustin is a certified public accountant with professional experience in public, industry, governmental and nonprofit accounting, auditing and taxation.
He advanced from entry level accounting and auditing positions in public accounting and industry, to serving in senior management staff leadership positions in banking and hospital management, with direct reporting responsibilities to the organizations’ boards of directors. He is currently a sole practitioner providing accounting, tax and estate planning services to corporate and individual clients.
Augustin was born in St. Lucia, West Indies, and left after secondary school to pursue higher education in Florida. He graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Now a U.S. citizen and three-decade resident of Sarasota, Augustin has focused on community involvement and collaboration, which has led to his serving on a number of boards, including the Sarasota Y and Circus Sarasota, as well as providing volunteer consulting to nonprofits such as Designing Women of Sarasota.
All three members are appointed to three-year terms that began June 15, 2018.