Huffington Magazine Issue 20 | Page 40

THE ART OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION political and social elite. Her mansion sits atop Nob Hill, one of the city’s most exclusive zip codes. Under Stephens’ leadership, the school has purchased dozens of properties across the city, amassing a real estate portfolio worth at least $320 million. Annual revenues in 2009-10 were more than $247 million, up from $59 million a decade before, according to the most recent federal data. University officials did not make Stephens available for an interview “NOTHING AT THE UNIVERSITY HAPPENS WITHOUT ELISA STEPHENS; NO ONE THERE HAS AUTHORITY OTHER THAN HER. SHE AND THE INSTITUTION ARE ONE AND THE SAME.” after multiple requests, citing a busy schedule, but she responded to questions by e-mail. The university referred other questions to a spokeswoman, Susan Toland. “Academy of Art student ́