Welcome to our new Trustees

Three alumni have recently joined Exeter’s Board of Trustees, adding a wealth of professional experience and shared dedication to the Academy and its mission.

Una Basak ’90, Sam Maruca ’73 and Mike Schmidtberger ’78 began their terms July 1.

Exeter is blessed to have a dedicated body of alumni volunteers, with diverse and expert backgrounds, to oversee the administration of the school and the management of its financial and physical resources. You can see all of our Trustees here.

Below please find below a short bio of each of our three newest volunteers:

Una Basak ’90; P’19

Lexington, Massachusetts

Una Basak lived in Merrill Hall, played field hockey and lacrosse, and volunteered for Head Start through the Exeter Student Service Organization. She holds an A.B. from Harvard College in government. Una went on to complete premedical requirements and work at the bipolar clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital.

From there, she worked at The Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C., engaging in best-practice research with health systems across the country. She now serves on the board at her sons’ school for autism, Nashoba Learning Group, and the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital. Through the Operation House Call program at The Arc of Massachusetts, Basak teaches medical students at Boston University Medical Center and Harvard Medical School about treating individuals with developmental disabilities. An elected director of the GAA since 2018, she became a GAA vice president this year.

“I am coming to this role with a deep affection for the Academy and the recognition of a need to foster connection with our alumni of different affinities,” Basak says. “I hope to be able to continue the work to include and accommodate the differences among our alumni and work with the Academy to best address the evolution of our alumni community and engage as many alums as we can in as many creative ways as we can.”

Samuel M. Maruca ’73; P’04, P’07, P’10

Washington, D.C.

Sam Maruca entered as a prep from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and lived in Bancroft Hall, Dunbar Hall and Lamont Hall. He was active in the glee club, orchestra, student government and basketball, and “majored” in classical languages. Maruca received a B.A. with honors in American studies from Yale College. After graduation, Sam worked for the House Administration Committee of the U.S. Congress and as a law clerk, while attending Georgetown University Law Center as an evening student. He served on The Georgetown Law Journal staff and graduated in 1982. During a long career in private practice in Washington, D.C., Maruca specialized in large case dispute resolution in the international tax field. He is currently senior counsel with Covington & Burling LLP and has an active pro bono practice. Maruca is the board treasurer of Capitol Hill Day School. Maruca has been an elected director of the GAA since 2018 and GAA secretary from 2020-22. He became a GAA vice president this year.

“I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to give back to Exeter through service on the board!” he says. “Thank you for your trust in me. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and contributing in any modest way I can to perpetuating and improving this unique institution.”

Michael J. Schmidtberger ’78

New York, New York

Mike Schmidtberger entered PEA in January of his prep year. He lived in Wentworth Hall; participated in cross-country, spring track and basketball; served on the Student Council; and worked in the Elm Street Dining Hall. He holds a B.A. with honors in English from Columbia College and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of Columbia Human Rights Law Review. Schmidtberger is the chair of the executive committee of the international law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. His principal areas of practice are securities and commodities-related funds and corporate transactions, including related regulatory matters. Schmidtberger has been on the board of directors of the United Way of New York City since 2011 and has served as co-chair since 2016. He is also a member of the Columbia College Board of Visitors, a representative to the Partnership for New York City and a trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission.

“I am honored and quite humbled to have the opportunity to serve the Academy, and all its constituencies, as a trustee,” he says. “I remember well — I was taught by an extraordinary faculty; learned from, and made lifelong friends with, fellow students; and was treated kindly by staff. I look forward to spending more time in Exeter, NH!”  

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of The Exeter Bulletin.