Biography of Elizabeth Casteen

Elizabeth (Betsy) Foote 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.

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, president of the University of Virginia. She travels 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 represents the president and often speaks on his behalf.

She oversees the management of Carr's Hill, the historic and official home of the University president and his family. She is in charge of the maintenance, restoration and decoration of this historic property, its dependencies, and its gardens. Each year the Casteens open their home to over 15,000 University students, faculty and staff members, alumni, and friends. Mrs. Casteen hosts nearly 100 events a year. Currently she is working on a book and a year long celebration of the Centennial of Carr’s Hill.

Mrs. Casteen served on the University's National Campaign Launch Committee; is a member of the University's Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Committee and the University of Virginia's Art Museum Advisory Board; and is the honorary president of the University of Virginia's Women's Club. She is currently the Co-chair of the Women in Leadership Conference scheduled in the fall 2008. 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.