Why Byron Boston ’81 Wants to Create Opportunities for Future Students

“Acts of kindness are important to me.”

Byron Boston ’81 is president and CEO of Dynex Capital and a member of the Presidential Commission on Financial Aid. As a Presidential Commission on Financial Aid member, Byron, shares his professional expertise and life experiences as the commission develops a comprehensive vision for dynamic, sustainable endowed scholarship funding for the coming decades. His service on the Presidential Commission on Financial Aid has prompted Byron to share his life’s journey from St. Louis to Dartmouth and beyond—and to reconnect with people who helped him. Here, he reflects on the challenges of stepping out of his comfort zone and talks about the endowed scholarship he and his wife, Andi, have established.

Can we start by talking about Dartmouth alumni in St. Louis?

Just yesterday I was talking with a classmate of mine, Gino Gabianelli, whose family is from St. Louis, where I grew up. His dad, Gene, Class of ’53, and his entire family were always very kind to me and my family. I had a video call with Gino and his dad this spring, and I was able to say, “Thank you, Mr. Gabianelli, for how wonderfully you treated my family. You were a kind person who made the journey more welcoming.”

Acts of kindness are important to me. One of the principal reasons why I chose to apply to Dartmouth is that the St. Louis alumni were kind to me. I was being recruited for football. I was looking at some Midwest universities and three Ivy League schools, one of them being Princeton. I went to a Princeton event in St. Louis. One person said, “Hi,” and then no one else spoke to me. Not one word. I stood there, kind of by the food, and after a while I just slipped out the door and left.

Contrast that to the Dartmouth alumni-sponsored Christmas party I attended a little later. I walked through the door, feeling nervous, and there was an alumnus, Clifton Berry ’73, who sees me and makes eye contact. He comes over, smiles, shakes my hand, and introduces me around. I can’t remember all the details of that event, but I remember everyone was nice. So, not surprisingly, I completed only one application to an Ivy League college.

From that moment, Clifton Berry has been an important part of my life. I had worked throughout high school for the Cardinals as an usher. I wanted a second job, so I called Clifton. He introduced me to Bob Turner, who graduated from Dartmouth the 1930s. He was another kind man, and he gave me a lot of his time. When I first met him, he asked me what I wanted to do in life. The most I could say was, “I want to go into business.” I didn’t know anything beyond that. For the next four years, Bob Turner was pretty much my career coach. He lined up a few jobs for me and advised me to get an internship in a bank’s loan department. That, he said, would help me figure out my career.

Did you get that internship?

I approached two or three banks in St. Louis on my own, and the response was essentially “Get out of here” because I didn’t have the knowledge or the experience. After I took some economics courses, so I could bring something to the table, and created a structure where I had six months off between my junior and senior years, I went back to Bob Turner. He helped me line up an interview for an internship at the First National Bank of St. Louis. There was at least one Dartmouth alum on the board of the bank and another three or four who worked there. 

It was a great internship, and the bank later offered me a job. One of the Dartmouth alums at the bank took me aside and said, “Hey, if you’re smart, you’ll go to New York, because they have better training programs.” That’s exactly what I did.

How did you feel when you first arrived at Dartmouth? 

One word: clueless. I came to Dartmouth thinking I would be an accounting major, because that’s the kind of degree Midwest colleges offered. I didn’t know what the liberal arts were. I was doing something big, different, and exciting—I was realizing my dream to play college football. But I was clueless. I was even clueless about the weather and the clothes I needed. I went to Sears and bought a parka, which was probably all polyester. I didn’t know anything about down jackets. I froze my butt off.

Since I was on the football team, I had a group of friends right off the bat. That was huge. The football team was there for me, and I embraced my teammates. Those guys are still my friends today.

A couple other African American guys told me which dorm I should get into—and I did. I lived in what was clearly the least desirable dorm on campus: Cohen Hall, way out on the edge of campus in the Choates. No one wants to stay there, but I wanted a single room. Only in hindsight have I come to realize the importance of that room. I stayed in Cohen Hall for four years and never had a roommate. That meant I could deal with Dartmouth on my terms because I had my own space. I didn’t have to deal with comparisons to a roommate who might have been much more privileged. Having the ability to de-stress and step away from everything was phenomenal.

Who helped you figure Dartmouth out?

There was no formal FYSEP [First Year Student Enrichment Program] then. But I had a FYSEP program—Professor Priscilla Sears. My assigned advisor wasn’t particularly helpful. Professor Sears looked at the schedule of classes I was planning to take in my first quarter and said, “No, no, no, you’ve got everything wrong. You need be over here with me.” English and writing were my weakness. I had three or four classes with her in my first year. She knew how to encourage me. I still remember she gave me a citation in one of her classes.

When did you stop feeling clueless?

Never. I was out of my comfort zone on each step in this journey. My parents provided the core life lessons about working hard, being a good guy, doing the right things, and avoiding the wrong people. They couldn’t give me any specifics about college. Fortunately, these Dartmouth alums, Priscilla Sears, and a few other professors stepped in, and I’ll always appreciate that.

Is Dartmouth doing a better job with first-generation students today? 

Absolutely. I didn’t really know about FYSEP until I joined the commission. I sat in on the final day of the program this past fall. It was fantastic to see these students having a thorough introduction to Dartmouth as opposed to just being dropped off. 

What inspired you to establish an endowed scholarship fund?

Part of it is gratitude. I received support from an endowed scholarship fund. That’s number one. Number two, I want to help. When I look at my life, I think of the St. Louis alums who advised me and mentored me. Some of them devoted huge amounts of time to me, others came through my life for a minute, but it was a powerful minute. I’m dedicated to the next generation, just as they were dedicated to me.

Endowing a scholarship is a sacrifice because I could use that money to help members of my own family. However, Dartmouth does a great job selecting top students, and I’m a huge believer in supporting smart students who can have an exponential impact on the world. 

Are you looking forward to meeting students who receive your scholarship?

I look forward to meeting any student who reaches out to me. Through Dartmouth Football Connect I’m listed as an alum who can advise football players, and several players have contacted me.

Money in the hands of a good person is a very powerful thing. For whatever amount of time I have on this planet, I want to be deliberate about how I use what I earn. I also want to be deliberate with my time because sharing my story with others, I’ve recently learned, can have a positive impact, especially for students who are grappling with big decisions.

Ultimately, I want to encourage people to be nice, to be good humans, and to help others. That can be by establishing an endowed scholarship or being a mentor. Sometimes it’s just offering a smile, which is what Clifton Berry gave me when I walked into that Christmas party. He gave me a smile and a handshake.

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