JET BLUE PRESIDENT RECEIVES ARENTS AWARD

Joanna Geraghty ’97 J.D./M.A. (IR) was presented with Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor, the George Arents Award, during the 2022 Alumni Awards Celebration held during Orange Central on Sept. 30. She was among four Arents Award recipients; hers was for “excellence in business leadership.”

Geraghty is president and chief operating officer of JetBlue, responsible for the company’s operations and commercial performance including airports, customer support, flight operations, inflight service, system operations and technical operations. She also oversees safety and security; network and airline partnerships; advertising, brand and marketing; and revenue management and sales.

Geraghty’s focus is on delivering a leading customer service experience and enhancing operational and commercial performance while nurturing Jet-

Blue’s unique culture and standing as one of the best places to work. Prior to being named president and COO, she served as JetBlue’s executive vice president, customer experience. She served as executive vice president, chief people officer from 2010-14, after serving as vice president and associate general counsel and director of litigation and regulatory affairs. Geraghty has been with the New York-based airline since 2005.

In addition, she serves on the board of directors of L3Harris Technologies, is a member of the board of the JetBlue Foundation and chairperson of the board of Concern Worldwide, a nonprofit international humanitarian organization. Before joining JetBlue, she was a partner at the law firm Holland & Knight.

Kimberlin Butler ’03 M.P.A. wrote an article for the Center for Effective Philanthropy titled, “The Fierce Urgency of Now: Delivering Lasting Change for Radical Accountability.” Butler is a senior director of foundation engagement at Mathematica, an organization based in Princeton, N.J., that partners with organizations to deliver solutions that improve programs, refine strategies, and deepen understanding across sectors.

Derick C. Villanueva ’03 M.A. (Econ) is a naval reserve officer with Defense Contract Management Agency in Boston, Mass. His previous tours of duty include multiple deployments to eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Korea and Afghanistan. Lieutenant Commander Villanueva, who earned a juris doctorate from the College of Law, also practices law and manages a real estate investment company with properties in the U.S. and Europe.