One could say that Orange is more than just a color for Elizabeth Wetherbee Klein. On her first day of college in 1989, a knock came on her Brewster Hall door. “Hi! I’m from Massachusetts, too,” said an unfamiliar face, reacting to the sign on Wetherbee’s door listing her hometown of Concord, Massachusetts. That person was David Klein ’93, her now-husband of nearly 25 years.

Fast forward to today, and their eldest son Jake ’27 is continuing the family tradition, studying sports media and communication at the Newhouse School.

“It's great to have Jake at Syracuse and comforting to be so familiar with the campus and the area,” says Wetherbee Klein. “We get to hear him on WAER [a campus radio station] and watch him on CitrusTV broadcasting games!”

Both successful entrepreneurs, Elizabeth and her husband have consistently prioritized giving back to the university that has played such a pivotal role in their personal and professional lives. In 2020, they created the George Klein Endowed Scholarship in memory of David’s father, who was a second-generation roofing contractor from Worcester, Massachusetts. The scholarship sponsors students from the Worcester area to attend Syracuse University.

In addition to pledging their financial support, Elizabeth and David have embraced leadership roles as stewards of Syracuse University. Earlier this year, David joined the Board of Advisors for the iSchool, and Elizabeth now joins the Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) for the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

The DAB is a group of more than 30 dedicated alumni, parents and friends of A&S who serve as advocates for the College. The Board advises Dean Behzad Mortazavi and helps develop resources to advance A&S’ strategic objectives.

Meet Elizabeth Wetherbee Klein

As an undergraduate student at Syracuse, Wetherbee Klein majored in psychology. After graduation, she went on to lead marketing teams in the financial services industry – a testament to the versatility of her liberal arts education.

“Every psychology course at SU provided elements that helped me understand what people want and need at different stages of development and in various scenarios,” says Wetherbee Klein, helping her to craft effective messages to reach her different audiences. “Whether you're pitching a product, interviewing for a job, buying a home, raising money for a school or charity, or negotiating with your teenager, knowing how to inspire action, and how to position the desired outcome as a win/win, is psychology in action.”

Among her leadership roles, Wetherbee Klein served as vice president and director of marketing for Financial Research Corporation (purchased by Citi), vice president of the U.S. finance and investment events division for British media conglomerate Informa PLC, where she went onto become senior vice president of marketing and communications for Informa Investment Solutions. In 2013, she launched a consulting practice specializing in innovative turn-around engagements for stagnant or distressed products and brands across a diverse portfolio of businesses, including financial services, software, construction and non-profits.

Wetherbee Klein currently serves as the chair of the board of directors for the New England Center for Children (NECC). NECC is a global leader in autism education, with day and residential programs, a powerful research arm, a graduate degree program for special educators and a software development arm that can deliver NECC’s curriculum to students wherever there is qualified support and internet access. She remains dedicated to helping others locally and globally, having held volunteer positions on the board of the Southborough Community Fund, serving on the family and philanthropy committee of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, as well as on the parent advisory council for Southborough Public Schools and Loomis Chaffee. She is also a member of the UMass Medicine Development Council.

Advocating for the Liberal Arts

Wetherbee Klein looks forward to working with Dean Mortazavi and her fellow DAB members to advance A&S’ key priorities. She emphasizes that, as the world undergoes seismic shifts due to global change and AI-driven automation, the intellectual flexibility fostered by the liberal arts is more crucial than ever.

“Great decision-makers draw from a broad intellectual toolkit—math and science for analytical rigor, literature and languages for communication and cultural fluency, philosophy and psychology for understanding human behavior,” says Wetherbee Klein. “Liberal arts graduates excel at learning, researching, challenging assumptions, and, most importantly, thinking critically and creatively. The future belongs to those who connect ideas across disciplines, recognize patterns others miss, and pivot with agility.”

A&S Dean Behzad Mortazavi is thrilled to welcome Wetherbee Klein to the advisory board, stating, "Elizabeth's journey from studying psychology at A&S to becoming a top marketer in the investment industry showcases the adaptability of professionals with a liberal arts background. I am grateful she is sharing her expertise to help advance the College's mission and prepare our students for success."

Wetherbee Klein expresses her excitement about the opportunity to highlight the important work of A&S faculty and to ensure that A&S students recognize the power they possess as they graduate and embark on meaningful careers. An added bonus of joining the Dean’s Advisory Board? Another great excuse to visit campus to see her eldest son!

“From the moment I first set foot on campus in 1989, Syracuse University has profoundly shaped my life. I'm thrilled to play a part in the University's continued success and growth,” she says.