A New Level of Excellence for College of Business

Major Contributions

The Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business, the Cotsakos Family Scholarship, and the Tami Cotsakos '71 Scholarship in Music

Christos and Tami Cotsakos, both alumni, have been very generous in their contributions and support to William Paterson University.

“I am forever grateful to William Paterson for giving me my re-start in life when most people wouldn't have given me a second look, let alone a second chance. I have a strong, emotional connection with the college and the environment that it helped create for a young kid trying to find himself,” says Christos M. Cotsakos.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Cotsakos was able to attend William Paterson through a combination of the G.I. bill, an alumni scholarship, and working nights loading trucks.  He received a B.A. in communications cum laude in 1973, and went on to earn an M.B.A. summa cum laude from Pepperdine University and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London.

Cotsakos is considered one of the leading visionaries, architects, and entrepreneurs of e-commerce and e-finance, having served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer for E*TRADE Group Inc.  Currently he is the founder and chief executive of Mainstream Holdings, a global, diversified technology and new media company with operations in e-commerce.

Tami Cotsakos earned a bachelor’s degree in music from William Paterson.  Both Christos and Tami are active in supporting the arts and education.