For the past four decades, Philip Milstein, Columbia College class of 1971 and Cheryl Glicker Milstein, Barnard College class of 1982, have helped transform Columbia University and Columbia Athletics with their magnanimous leadership and vision for the future.
From the construction of Wien Stadium and the Dick Savitt Tennis Center bubble in the 1980s and 1990s to the establishment of the Athletics Hall of Fame and celebration of the Silver An-niversary of the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium in the 2000s, the Milstein’s have been ever present in their support of Columbia Athletics.
As vice chair of the university trustees in 2007, Philip helped co-chair the Columbia campaign, which included the largest fundraising initiative in the history of the athletics program. The campaign culminated in redeveloping the Baker Athletics Complex with the building of the Campbell Sports Center, which features the Milstein Hospitality Pavilion.
Additionally, they were vital in establishing multiple coaching endowments, including the Bidy-ut K. Goswami, head coach of men’s tennis.
Cheryl was named chair of the Barnard College trustees in 2018. During her tenure, the number of Barnard women participating in the athletics program increased to a previously unreached level over the consortium’s first four decades.
Both Philip and Cheryl have been saluted by Columbia and Barnard many times. Philip has been named the college’s John Jay Award and Alexander Hamilton medal recipient. Cheryl has earned the Columbia Alumni medal - and they were both honored in 2006 at the annual Varsity C celebration with the Columbia Athletics Alumni Award.
Three of their four children are Columbia or Barnard College graduates, and their contributions to university facilities go way beyond athletics. Philip and Cheryl made their stamp on renova-tions to Butler Library, the construction of the medical and graduate education building at the Columbia Irving Medical Center and the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard College. In addition, they endow crucial financial aid programs like the Milstein Scholars.
The Milsteins’ newest incredible contribution to the university rises on the shores of Spuyten Duyvil—the Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center, which opened in February of 2023.
With six indoor and six outdoor courts, the Milstein Family Tennis Center is one of the nation’s most state-of-the-art collegiate tennis facilities. Serving as the home of Columbia’s men’s and women’s varsity tennis teams, the center also provides rental opportunities for collegiate and professional tournaments and Columbia and local community play.
