Gayle Blakeley Farris
Chairman, Forest City Science + Technology Group 

As Chairman, Gayle Blakely Farris focuses on industry trends and identifying opportunities for the Science + Technology Group to expand its strategic institutional, life science and other technology-industry relationships domestically and internationally. In addition, she is involved in the planning and implementation of major international development opportunities for the Company.

Farris brings to this role more than twenty years of experience leading the successful development of University Park at MIT and establishing Forest City's nationally-focused Science + Technology Group.

Farris is also a member of many professional organizations including, New England Women in Real Estate (NEWIRE), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). For the past two years, Farris served on the Steering Committee for the annual BIO International Convention.

Before joining Forest City in 1985, Farris was a commercial lending and trust officer at First National Bank of Chicago and a real estate management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. Farris began her career in the public sector with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She graduated with honors from Rhodes College.