UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Smeal College of Business graduate Stuart Rothstein, class of 1988, a partner and chief operating officer of Apollo Global Management’s global principal finance and real estate business, recently accepted an invitation from Charles H. Whiteman, John and Becky Surma Dean, to join the Smeal Board of Visitors.
Rothstein is also the chief executive officer, president and a member of the board of directors of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc., a publicly traded, real estate investment trust managed by an affiliate of Apollo.
Based on their professional experience and knowledge of the latest issues and trends facing the business community, board members offer advice to the dean and other Smeal administrators. Members meet once each semester to provide recommendations on new initiatives and offer feedback on matters related to the college. In order to adhere to required social distancing guidelines, the spring 2020 meeting will take place virtually.
"Stuart has served the college as a member of the Real Estate Advisory Board for more than a decade and has been a guest speaker for Smeal’s Real Estate and Wall Street Boot Camps. He’s also served twice as the Advance Realty Group lecturer,” said Whiteman. “His guidance and counsel as a member of the Smeal Board of Visitors will be instrumental in helping us set priorities as we move forward from these tumultuous times.”
Stuart and his wife, Michele, have created the Rothstein Trustee Scholarship in the Smeal College of Business; the Stuart and Michele Rothstein Scholarship in Real Estate; the Stuart and Michele Rothstein Early Career Professorship in Finance, a position currently held by Matthew Gustafson, associate professor of finance; and the Stuart and Michele Rothstein Study Abroad Initiative, which will support undergraduate student study abroad experiences.
Rothstein said he believes that business education needs to keep pace with a global economy that is changing and evolving at an accelerating pace.
“Regardless of the direction of the economy, there will continue to be a need for talented individuals that can think critically, be analytically rigorous, and effectively communicate their ideas,” he said. “I am honored to be invited to join the Smeal Board of Visitors and am grateful for the opportunity to work with Dean Whiteman and with many other talented and successful alumni who care deeply about Smeal and its continued success.”
Prior to joining Apollo in 2009, Rothstein was co-managing partner of Four Corners Properties, a privately held real estate investment company. Earlier in his career, he served in senior positions with KKR Financial Advisors LLC and the Related Capital Company. He began his real estate career at Spieker Properties, where he held various senior finance positions prior to being named CFO in 1999.
Rothstein was a member of the University Scholars Program and graduated with honors from Penn State in 1988 in accounting. He also holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
The Smeal Board of Visitors includes nearly 40 members. The advisory board is composed of global business and industry leaders who are Smeal alumni and friends. A complete list of members can be found online.