Andre J.L. Koo’s dedication and commitment to both NYU Stern and the broader University is nothing short of remarkable. A champion of education, program innovation, global student and alumni community building, and philanthropy, Andre is a pioneer in setting the bar for what is possible when it comes to giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure. He has honored his family’s long-standing legacy with NYU which began with his father, Jeffrey Koo Sr., who earned his MBA from Stern in 1962, and passed on to Andre himself and Andre’s two children, Andre Jr. (BS ’18) and Matthew (BS ’24). Not only has Andre been actively engaged with the community for many years, he has made it a priority to serve as a prominent volunteer leader at Stern and NYU. As an acknowledgement of his extensive support for the University, in April 2024, Andre was honored as Stern’s 43rd Charles Waldo Haskins Award honoree, and in May 2023, he received NYU’s Albert Gallatin Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Society.

As the first internationally-based Chair of Stern’s Executive Board, a role he assumed in 2019, Andre has been instrumental in diversifying Board membership and inspiring increased levels of giving and engagement with the School. Andre joined Stern’s Executive Board in 2012, and shortly thereafter expanded his dedication to the University by becoming a member of the NYU Board of Trustees in 2013. Although Andre will remain an active member of both Stern’s Executive Board and NYU’s Board of Trustees, as of July 1, 2024, he will step down as Stern’s Board Chair, aligning with Dean Sundaram’s transition to NYU leadership.

Beyond his volunteer leadership roles, Andre’s philanthropy has been transformational. He and his wife, Jana, have supported a multitude of initiatives: the renovation of the high-traffic lobby of the Kaufman Management Center, now named the Andre J.L. Koo Lobby; the innovative Andre Koo Technology and Entrepreneurship MBA Program as well as scholarships, an endowed chair, and annual support for NYU’s One Day campaign.

Andre has also invested so much of himself in building community among students and alumni, in particular in Asia. He is the founder and current president of the NYU Pan-Asia Alumni Association, is a member of the President’s Global Council, and president of the NYU Alumni Club in Taiwan. As a champion of Stern and NYU, Andre has done an exceptional job at connecting students, parents, and alumni in Asia around their collective support for NYU.

In November 2023, Andre hosted a Stern alumni breakfast networking event with Dean Raghu Sundaram just prior to the start of the NYU Pan-Asia Conference in Taipei. Earlier in the fall of 2023, Andre hosted the Stern Executive MBA Class of 2025 in his offices in Taipei as part of their Global Immersion Experience program. His dedication has no limits, and his passion for the School comes alive during his MBA and Undergraduate commencement ceremony speeches, where he fondly recounts his time as a student at NYU Stern. For those who are graduating, he serves as a tremendous role model for paying it forward. It is difficult to count the many ways that Andre has helped to shape the School and the Stern community. The School is deeply grateful for all that he has done.

Illustration by Yuke Li