Ben Franklin's Board of Directors elects new member

Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE) which oversees Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS), recently elected Mark I. Baum, AIA to its board of directors, effective immediately.

Mr. Baum, Class of 1977, is not only a Franklin alumnus, founding member and past president of its Alumni Association, but also a parent of a current Franklin student. Mr. Baum is actively involved with the AAEE Facilities Committee and the Ben Franklin Athletic Association (BFAA). He is currently the principal of the New Orleans office of Chenevert Architects LLC.

“Mr. Baum brings a wealth of experience and will play a key role in advocating for and sustaining Franklin’s goals,” said Duris Holmes, AAEE Board President.

Dr. Timothy Rusnak, Franklin’s Principal/CEO added, “We are fortunate to have Mr. Baum join our board. His strong history of support of Franklin as a graduate, coupled with his highly respected reputation as an architect is a perfect match as we map out our future.”

Other current board members include Patricia Adams, Lester F. Alexander III, Joseph A. Horton, M.D. ’65, Carl Indest ’79, Anh “Joseph” Cao, Sandra Katz Levy ’65, Ingrid T. Labat, M.D. ’87, Mark Mayer, Gary Ostroske and Susan Weeks as well as Board President, Duris Holmes ’80.

Mr. Baum received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1982 from Louisiana State University. He also is a former member of the executive committee of the New Orleans Chapter of the American Institute of Architects as well as a former member of the Board of Trustees of Touro Synagogue and the Jewish Community Center.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected to serve Franklin in this capacity,” Mr. Baum said, “and I will do my best to uphold Franklin’s tradition of excellence, advance and secure Franklin’s future and add my perspective as an architect and planner to the Board.”

 

Benjamin Franklin High School, located on the University of New Orleans campus, was founded in 1957, its stated mission, to prepare students of high academic achievement to be successful in life.  Franklin has been consistently ranked as a “top public high school in the nation” by U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, and Business Week magazines and has received the highest School Performance Score in Louisiana, making it the #1 public school in the state again this year.  Franklin is a National Blue Ribbon School. 

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