Board of Directors

Paul Deninger
Larry Dunn
Rachel Graves
Sharon K. Jefferies
Christopher T. O'Connell
      Carrera Jefferies Shea
Michael J. "Joe" Sullivan
Maxine Syrjamaki
Tom Tarrant
Thomas M. Thees


     Paul F. Deninger
Chairman, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Paul is a Vice Chairman of Jefferies & Company, Inc. and former Chairman and CEO of Broadview International, acquired by Jefferies in 2003, now Jefferies Broadview, the Firm's technology investment banking division. Paul joined Broadview in 1987 and works primarily in the Firm's Waltham (MA) Office.
Boston College
Harvard Business School
Board Member since 2006
Co-Chair from 2007-2009
 

     Larry Dunn
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Retired from Jefferies in 2006 after 30 years of service
Elected to the Board of Directors and
appointed the Chairman of the Investment Committee in 2008
 

     Rachel Graves
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Rachel is the Director of Human Resources for the Investment Banking Division of Jefferies and Company. She joined Jefferies in 2006 and works in the Firm's New York office.
Franklin and Marshall College
Board Member Since 2007
 

     Sharon K. Jefferies
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Sharon was involved with the Jefferies Family Scholarship long before she became a director. Sharon's husband, Boyd L. Jefferies, started this scholarship program in 1981 in honor of his son, Stephen.
Board Member Since 2001
 

     Christopher T. O'Connell
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Chris is Managing Director of Equity Research Sales in New York and has been with Jefferies since 1994.
Bowdoin College
Lubin School of Business, Pace University
Board Member since 2009
 

     Carrera Jefferies Shea
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Carrera is the daughter of Stephen Jefferies and the granddaughter of founder, Boyd Jefferies. She is also a former employee of Jefferies & Company. Carerra served on the Selection Committee from 1995-2001.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Board Member since 2001
 

     Michael J. "Joe" Sullivan
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Joe joined Jefferies in 1999. He is a Senior Vice President and an Account Executive in New York's Equity Department.
Saint Joseph's University
Board Member since 2009
 

     Maxine Syrjamaki
Treasurer, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Retired after 24 years in the Los Angeles Office - Former Jefferies Group Controller and Jefferies and Company Chief Financial Officer. She is a CPA formerly with KPMG.
University of Minnesota
University of California - Los Angeles
Elected to the board in 2008
 

     Tom Tarrant
Secretary, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Tom is Director of Marketing and a Managing Director at Jefferies & Company, Inc. He joined the Firm in 1997 and works in the Firm's Stamford and New York offices.
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
University of California, Berkley, Graduate School of Business
Board Member since 2006
 

     Thomas M. Thees
Director, Jefferies Family Scholarship

Tom joined the firm in 2008 and is a Managing Director in the New York Office's Fixed Income Department.
During his undergraduate work at Georgetown University, he was a George F. Baker Scholar.
Board Member since 2009


In my last year of medical school, I am very grateful for the support I have received from the Jefferies Family Scholarship, which has helped me immensely both personally and academically. Not many accomplish special things in life without assistance, support, and love from others, and I intend to 'pass the torch' as one of my wise mentors has taught me. I look forward with enthusiasm to contributing to this fund down the road and helping other aspiring students.

John LaPadula, JFS Recipient






  • The average total cost for just one year at a private four-year college exceeds $33,000, according to CollegeBoard.com.
  • For the last two years, forty percent of JFS recipients' parents reported total family incomes under $100,000 and many of our scholarship winners are being raised by single parents.
  • Nineteen percent of Jefferies' employees make less than $75,000 per year.