Howie and Louise Phanstiel have a distinguished history of leadership at Syracuse University. Since 2007, Howie has served as one of three co-chairs of the most ambitious capital campaign in the University’s history, The Campaign for Syracuse University. As co-chair, he advocates for SU’s vision of Scholarship in Action, recruits volunteers, articulates funding priorities, and rallies the support needed to reach the campaign’s unprecedented goal of $1 billion.
With the creation of the Louise and Howard Phanstiel Scholars program, the Phanstiels aim to not only provide the financial resources neccessary to attend SU, but to create a spirit of philanthropy among the Scholars so that they give of their time, resources, and talent to make the world a better place.
“We have uniquely designed the grant program with the principles of Scholarship in Action in mind,” says Howie Phanstiel. “We want students to understand the value - to others as well as to themselves - of giving back to their community.”
Reflecting the Syracuse Responds initiative, the Phanstiel Scholars program aims to ensure that talented students with leadership potential, both in the classroom and in the community, can be a part of the SU experience.
“We believe that education is the key to unlocking the hopes and dreams that lie inside each of us to the betterment of our country and society,” says Louise Phanstiel. “It is our sincere desire that the Phanstiel Scholars will realize their full potential and be productive and active citizens.”
Howie Phanstiel is a graduate of The College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in political science, and received a Masters of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. In addition to his service on SU's Board of Trustees, he has served on the Maxwell School Advisory Board since 2005. In 2006, Howie and Louise provided a $5 million gift to the Maxwell School for the creation of the Phanstiel Chair in Strategic Management and Leadership, which served their vision for promoting outstanding leadership in the public sector. Additionally the Phanstiels have made a gift of $1.2 million to help finance the building of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.
Professionally, Howie is a veteran health insurance executive, having led the successful restructuring of PacifiCare Health Systems as its president, CEO and chairman. He retired after the 2005 PacifiCare merger with UnitedHealth Group Inc. and with his wife, Louise, established Phanstiel Enterprises LLC, a private consulting and investment firm in Los Angeles.
Louise Phanstiel received a B.A. in Accounting from Golden Gate University. She is a former partner of Coopers & Lybrand, now PriceWaterhouse Coopers, in its insurance practice and a former President of Specialty Products at WellPoint, Inc. Retired in 2008, she currently serves as a Director of Myriad Genetics, Inc. and as a Director and Vice Chairman of Best Friends Animal Society.
