Bernard L. Schwartz Professorship in Political Economy

BERNARD LEON SCHWARTZ is chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, LLC, a private investment firm. He also manages the investments of the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Foundation, which mainly supports higher education, medical research, and New York City-based cultural organizations. He promotes the development of U.S. economic policy initiatives through investment in educational institutions, think tanks, and advocacy organizations. Prior to establishing BLS Investments in March 2006, Mr. Schwartz served for 34 years as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Loral Space & Communications and its predecessor company, Loral Corporation.

He has also been active in civic and political affairs. Mr. Schwartz serves as a trustee of the New York University Hospitals Center, the New York Historical Society, Thirteen/WNET Educational Broadcasting Corporation, and Baruch College. He is also vice president of the New York Film Society.

In addition, Mr. Schwartz is a director of the New America Foundation, where he supports its fellowship program; chairman of the board of trustees of Third Way, a progressive advocacy organization; and a supporter of the Democratic Leadership Council.

He has received many honors, including the 1995 Man of the Year award of the Weitzmann Institute of Science, the Townsend Harris Medal for civic achievement, and the Eisenhower Award from Business Executives for National Defense. A longtime friend of Hopkins, Mr. Schwartz has served on the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies Board of Advisors. He provided for the Bernard L. Schwartz Distinguished Professorship in Urologic Oncology and the Bernard L. Schwartz Professorship in Political Economy. He was presented with the Founder’s Award at SAIS in 2009.