Adair, Bennington, and Kennedy Sudduth Join USRowing Foundation Board of Trustees

• The USRowing Foundation grows to 44 Trustees.
• The trio brings professional expertise and personal rowing experience at the collegiate and elite level.
• Their diverse backgrounds, in filmmaking, finance, and real estate, will help advance the Foundation’s mission to support U.S. rowing at every level.

July 23, 2025 — The USRowing Foundation (USRF) is proud to welcome three new trustees to its board: filmmaker and former Harvard coxswain Devin Adair; investment professional William (Bill) J. Bennington; and real estate executive and former elite rower Ruth Kennedy Sudduth. All three bring a deep personal connection to the sport of rowing and substantial expertise in their respective fields.

Devin Adair is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and author whose storytelling career includes producing Break Point, Betting on Zero, and the award-winning Grace, which she also wrote and directed. Adair is the author of The Challenge, a memoir detailing her experience as the first female coxswain on the Harvard men’s heavyweight crew. During her time at Harvard, she led one of the school’s most decorated crews to victory at the Henley Royal Regatta's Grand Challenge Cup—a feat unmatched by any college team since. 

“My experience with rowing had a profound, positive effect on my life,” said Adair. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to support our wonderful sport and help make rowing available to many more.”

William J. Bennington is managing director of Bridgewater James Limited, LLC, which he founded after holding senior roles at firms including Pantera Global Macro Fund, J.H. Whitney & Co., and Alex. Brown & Sons. A Princeton graduate, Bennington rowed at both Princeton and St. Paul’s School, winning IRA titles and competing internationally at Henley and the World Rowing Cup. He currently serves on the boards of Grace Cathedral and Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco and has held numerous leadership roles in educational and nonprofit organizations. 

“Rowing has played an important role in my life,” said Bennington. “It is an honor to help provide opportunities for U.S. athletes to excel on the world stage.”

Ruth Kennedy Sudduth is vice chair of LandVest, where she has led landmark real estate transactions across the country for clients such as Harvard University, MIT, and The Nature Conservancy. A Yale graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School, Kennedy Sudduth previously co-led global fixed income at Wellington Management. She has competed in rowing at an elite level and remains active in biking and masters rowing. Her board service spans both corporate and nonprofit organizations, including Groton School, Historic New England, and the Trustees of Reservations. 

“I look forward to working with the other USRF trustees to bring opportunities and support to all levels of rowing within the U.S.,” she said. 

There are currently 44 USRowing Foundation Trustees who represent a wide breadth of professional expertise and rowing connections. A complete list of USRF Trustees can be found here.

About USRowing Foundation   

The USRowing Foundation is the official fundraising arm of the United States Rowing Association (USRowing) and the U.S. National Team. Trustees of the USRowing Foundation utilize their personal and professional contacts to expand the USRowing fundraising pipeline, providing opportunities for individuals, foundations, and corporations to support USRowing initiatives and priorities through individual philanthropy and corporate partnerships. For additional information about the USRowing Foundation: tracy.brown@usrowing.org