Biography
Elizabeth (Betsy) Casteen was born in Boston and raised in Massachusetts. She graduated with a BA in Art History from Boston University, having studied also in Rouen, France. She attended Boston Architectural Center and earned a Master's degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University. She has been a city planner in Cambridge, Boston, and New York City, where she served in various public and private offices: City of Cambridge Development Office; Boston Office of the Mayor; the City of New York's Department Housing Preservation and Development; New York City Commissioner of Housing office; Hartshorn Aboretum in Short Hills, NJ.
Prior to moving to Charlottesville, she lived in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where she chaired the Town of Longmeadow planning board and served on the regional Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. She served as a director of United Cooperative Bank and was a corporator of the Springfield Library and Museums Association.
She served under three Massachusetts Governors as vice chair of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency. She was appointed by the President of the Massachusetts Senate to serve as director of the Brownfields Advisory Board, which advises the Governor on environmental issues regarding contaminated development sites. Most recently, she was vice president of real estate development of MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' economic development agency, where she worked on the redevelopment of a 125-acre former state mental hospital in Northampton, Massachusetts.
In 2003, Betsy married John T. Casteen III, seventh President of the University of Virginia. She traveled extensively with President Casteen on behalf of the University to communicate the University's near- and long-term aspirations to alumni, parents, and friends. On many occasions, she represented the president and often spoke on his behalf.
She oversaw the management of Carr's Hill, the historic and official home of the University president and his family. She was in charge of the maintenance, restoration and decoration of the historic property, its dependencies, and its gardens. Each year the Casteens opened their home to over 15,000 University students, faculty and staff members, alumni, and friends. Mrs. Casteen hosted nearly 100 events a year. For the year-long celebration of the Centennial of Carr's Hill, she worked on a number of projects, including a book about the architectural and residential history of Carr's Hill; and numerous lectures, exhibits, and social events.
Mrs. Casteen served on the University's National Campaign Launch Committee; is a member of the University's Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Committee; is a former member the University of Virginia's Art Museum Advisory Board; and is the honorary president of the University of Virginia's Women's Club. She was the co-chair of the Women in Leadership Conference in the fall of 2008 and 2009. Betsy is also a member of the Charlottesville Garden Club and the Contemporary Club. She is an avid sports fan and an advocate of women's sports; she attends as many events as her schedule allows.
Betsy and John Casteen have five children and two grandchildren.