Photo above by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program
Truman Semans, one of the founders of Brown Advisory, generously shares stories but, with a smile, insists that he does not dole out advice. He offers instead what have been the clarion calls in his own journey: the importance of intention, generosity, and good stewardship of people and the planet, especially the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Raised in the Maryland Tidewater, Truman was immersed in nature from an early age. He fondly recalls selling soft-shell crabs to the Maryland Club and spending endless days outdoors with cousins.
That formative love has shaped his life and his philanthropy for more than six decades. He attended Gilman School, then The Lawrenceville School, where an accelerated program let him graduate in three years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during WWII, an experience he calls transformative — until that point, his life had been rather “entitled.”
That spirit of service runs through everything since. Brown Advisory, where he devoted most of his career, was built on clear priorities: care for clients, care for the team, care for the communities they were all part of. With a commitment to “asking hard questions with a smile,” it grew from a fledgling firm to a thriving international leader.
Upon learning about the Finding a Better Way Campaign and Nature Sacred’s ambitions for the next five years, Truman said yes again. He has been with us since the founding. We are honored to celebrate his generosity and the lasting mark he has made across countless communities. We are honored to call him our advisor, champion, and friend.
