Honoring a Legacy, Shaping the Future

We’re excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware.

We’ll mark the occasion with a historic exhibit, a landmark publication, a full‑day symposium, and an evening gala!

EVENTS & HIGHLIGHTS

HISTORIC EXHIBIT

Celebrating 25 Years: A Legacy in Focus

As part of our 25th anniversary, the Weinberg Center has curated a special exhibit highlighting its origins, mission, and goals. This retrospective honors two of our luminous early visionaries, John L. Weinberg and William T. Allen, and celebrates the Weinberg Center community, a large group of professionals who have contributed greatly over the years.

The exhibit will be on display in the atrium of Lerner Hall throughout the 2025–26 academic year.

LANDMARK BOOK

Boardroom Legacy: The Weinbergs of Goldman Sachs and the Evolution of Corporate Governance

To mark its 25th anniversary, the Weinberg Center proudly presents a landmark publication: Boardroom Legacy explores the evolution of corporate governance, highlighting the never-before-published 1948 Princeton thesis of John L. Weinberg, who would go on to lead Goldman Sachs.

Edited by Professor Lawrence A. Cunningham and framed by reflections from 15 leading experts, the volume spans a century of boardroom practice and honors the legacy of our Founder, who would have been 100 years old in 2025. It includes two classic essays by his father, Sidney J. Weinberg, another legendary Goldman Sachs leader who shaped the modern boardroom.

Read the Thesis on SSRN

A foundational piece of Boardroom Legacy is now publicly available: the never-before-published 1948 Princeton senior thesis of John L. Weinberg. This remarkable work offers a rare historical perspective on the role of corporate directors that is of continuing relevance. The Weinberg Center has posted the first half of the thesis on SSRN, with the second half to follow. READ IT HERE.

SYMPOSIUM

October 9 | John M. Clayton Hall

Join us for a full-day symposium featuring a discussion of Boardroom Legacy: The Weinbergs of Goldman Sachs and the Evolution of Corporate Governance.

This special event will include presentations and discussions led by the book’s contributing authors—highlighting a century of governance insights and leadership lessons.

Pre-Symposium Reading

Ahead of our 25th anniversary symposium, we invite all attendees to explore the historic 1948 thesis of John L. Weinberg—posted in advance on SSRN and central to the forthcoming volume Boardroom Legacy. ACCESS THE THESIS HERE.

Keynote Lunch Address

Presented by The Honorable Leo J. Strine, Jr., former Chancellor and Chief Justice of Delaware, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and counsel at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The keynote address will offer a tribute to the Weinberg Center’s intellectual founder, Chancellor William T. Allen.

The Symposium is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. REGISTER HERE.

Please contact Nicole Rich with questions.

GALA CELEBRATION

October 9 | Trabant Center

The Weinberg Center community and honored guests will gather for a celebratory evening featuring special tributes to mark our 25th anniversary.

The evening will open with a cocktail hour accompanied by a performance from a University of Delaware School of Music quartet.

The Gala is by invitation only. Please contact Lawrence Cunningham with questions.

 

HOSTS

  • Andre G. Bouchard, Chair, Weinberg Center Advisory Board
  • Lawrence A. Cunningham, Director, John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance
  • Laura Carlson, Interim President, University of Delaware

SPEAKERS

  • Paul S. Atkins, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Richard A. Gephardt, Former U.S. House Majority Leader
  • Kathaleen St. J. McCormick (via video), Delaware Court of Chancery
  • John F.W. Rogers, Goldman Sachs
  • Collins J. Seitz, Delaware Supreme Court

SUPPORT & IMPACT

Reflection

Upon the Weinberg Center’s 20th anniversary, Myron T. Steele, former Chief Justice of Delaware (2004-2014) and Chair Emeritus of the Weinberg Center’s Advisory Board, gave an inspiring keynote. He highlighted the Weinberg Center’s unique role in fostering respectful and inclusive discussions on governance, which has become only more relevant since he spoke:

“The Weinberg Center brings something special to the discussion of governance. It offers a level playing field for all ideas—for institutional investors, corporations, directors, managers, private equity, and any investment vehicle. The Weinberg Center [engages] in a respectful manner, devoid of the disdainful tone often found in politics today. Research is conducted, and helpful papers examine issues in corporate governance and present those issues on the academic side of the Weinberg Center. The reputation of the Delaware judiciary goes back decades, and this tradition will continue to thrive over the next several decades. The Weinberg Center is essential to this progress.”

Appreciation

Thank you, Chief Justice Steele! Special thanks to our Myron T. Steele Fellows and UD colleagues for their contributions to the book, exhibit, and related projects.

We salute the Weinberg Center Advisory Board and its 25th Anniversary Committee:

We are grateful to the Weinberg Center’s many generous supporters, including all who are making special gifts in recognition of the 25th anniversary. This growing list includes the following first-ring benefactors:

  • The late John L. Weinberg and his family
  • The Goldman Sachs Foundation
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
  • Sullivan & Cromwell

  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  • Alston & Bird
  • Cravath, Swaine & Moore 
  • Fried Frank

  • Mayer Brown
  • Willkie Farr & Gallagher
  • Morris James
  • Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell

  • Potter, Anderson & Corroon
  • Richards, Layton & Finger
  • Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor
  • Grant & Eisenhofer

We will regularly update this list as the countdown to the anniversary celebrations continues.

None of this would be possible without your generous support. We thank you for your engagement, which has shaped our past—and will help define our next 25 years.

Gratefully, Larry (For the Weinberg Center Team)
Lawrence A. Cunningham, Director
John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance

Register Today!

Countdown to the Anniversary Celebration

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The Symposium is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

Register Here