The MJS Foundation is a private family foundation formed in 2011. The foundation focuses its support in the New York City area with an aim of reaching diverse communities in need and enhancing the quality of education, social services, and health care. A small portfolio is directed to the Stony Brook community, primarily to the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
DIRECTORS
James Simons
James Simons is Co-Chair of the Simons Foundation and director and founder of Renaissance Technologies. Prior to his financial career, Simons was chairman of the mathematics department at Stony Brook University, taught mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University and was a cryptanalyst at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Simons holds a B.S. from MIT and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
In 1976, he won the Veblen Prize of the American Mathematics Society for his work in geometry. He is a trustee of the Stony Brook Foundation, Rockefeller University, MIT, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Mathematics Sciences Research Institute, New York Genome Center, and the Institute for Advanced Study, and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
Jeffrey Wacksman
Jeffrey Wacksman is a partner at Loeb, Block and Partners LLP. He started his legal career at Shearman & Sterling LLP and joined Loeb, Block & Partners LLP in 1991, becoming a partner in 1994. Jeff has served on numerous Boards, including open and closed-end public mutual funds, private foundations, public charities, as well as closely held corporations.
Mr. Wacksman obtained a B.A. in accounting from the University of Vermont and a J.D. from Cornell University School of Law.
Marilyn H. Simons
Marilyn Simons is a philanthropist and advocate focused on funding basic science research. A
co-founder of the Simons Foundation, Marilyn currently serves as a co-chair of the foundation’s
board of trustees.
Mrs. Simons also has more than 25 years of experience actively supporting nonprofit organizations in New York City and State. She is a Director of Foundation for a Just Society International, is chairman of the board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, an outstanding U.S. research facility specializing in molecular biology and genetics, and is a board member of the Turkana Basin Institute, a research institution that supports scientific projects in the Turkana Basin of Northern Kenya. She also serves as chair of the Stony Brook Women’s Leadership Council. In addition to her work to advance basic science research, Simons has been involved in K–12 education for underserved communities. She is a member of the board of trustees of the Learning Spring School, a New York City-based school for children diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and the East Harlem Scholars Academy in New York City.
Mrs. Simons received a B.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Joseph Cosmai
Joseph Cosmai is Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for Euclidean Capital LLC, the family office of James & Marilyn Simons. He has served in these roles since Euclidean’s inception in 2010.
Prior to Euclidean, Joseph was employed by Renaissance Technologies from 2005 to 2009 overseeing matters of James Simons and related entities.
Joseph was previously a Vice President at Marujupu LLC the Sulzberger family office, where he oversaw investments, accounting and tax matters.
Joseph is a CPA in NYS and has an MS in Taxation.
