“Technology is the backbone for faculty research, scholarship, creative work and collaboration; for educating our students in bold and different new ways; and for competing in tomorrow’s world,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Syracuse University is taking bold steps in technology strategies and investments, and we need a dynamic and visionary leader to head our technology strategy and infrastructure. I am confident in this search committee’s ability to identify an outstanding chief information officer who will help propel Syracuse’s digital and technology capabilities to exceed the needs and expectations of our students, faculty and staff.”

The committee will be led by Jeff Rubin, special advisor to the chancellor on esports and digital transformation and professor of practice in the School of Information Studies. Chancellor Syverud will serve on the search committee given the critical importance of the chief information officer role. Other members include:

1. Sharon Barner ’79, University Trustee
2. Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff
3. Nick Donofrio G’71, H’11, Life Trustee
4. Brett Padgett, senior vice president and chief financial officer
5. Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer

The goal of the committee is to complete the search by the end of the Fall 2023 semester with the new chief information officer beginning early in 2024. Korn Ferry, an executive search firm with expertise in higher education, will support the search.

“Falk College has undergone tremendous growth and success over the last several years, thanks to the leadership of Dean Diane Murphy,” Provost Ritter says. “The college is well-positioned to continue on that path, particularly as we move forward with a joint Newhouse School-Falk College esports degree, making the deanship an attractive opportunity for the right leader. I thank the members of the search committee and look forward to meeting the slate of candidates they put forward.”

Falk College faculty members Mary Graham, professor of sport management and faculty athletic representative, and Katherine McDonald, associate dean of research and professor of public health, are committee co-chairs. Other members are the following:

• Lynn Brann, associate professor and chair, exercise science/nutrition and food studies, Falk College
• Kelly Chandler-Olcott, interim dean, School of Education
• Kristen Davis, graduate student, Falk College
• Brooks Gump, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Public Health, Falk College
• Chandice Haste-Jackson, associate dean of student services and associate teaching professor, human development and family science, Falk College
• Kevin Heffernan, associate professor, exercise science, Falk College
• Eunjoo Jung, associate professor, human development and family science, Falk College
• Larry Kramer ’72, Syracuse University Trustee
• Mariana Isabel Perez Lugo, undergraduate student, Falk College
• Gina Pauline, associate professor, sport management, Falk College
• Tyler Sliker, clinic director, marriage and family therapy, Falk College
• Matt Spitzmueller, associate professor, social work, Falk College
• Mike Tirico ’88, Syracuse University Trustee
• Peter Vanable, associate provost for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School
• Rick Welsh, Falk Family Endowed Professor of Food Studies, Falk College

Provost Ritter has also announced plans to convene a task force to explore the establishment of a School of Sport Management within the Falk College, elevating what is currently a department. Established in 2005, sport management has consistently attracted strong-caliber students and prepared them for careers in the industry while benefiting from interprofessional connections with other Falk programs, including nutrition and health and exercise science. The department also offers a degree in sport analytics, which was one of the first bachelor’s degrees of its kind when it launched in 2017. More information about the task force will be available soon.

The search firm WittKieffer will assist the committee in all aspects of recruitment and selection. Nominations may be sent to FalkCollegeDean@wittkieffer.com.

The committee, composed of students, faculty, staff and members of the Board of Trustees, will be co-chaired by iSchool professors Megan Oakleaf and Carsten Østerlund.

Additional members of the search advisory committee include:

• Charis Asante-Agyei, graduate student, iSchool
• Jaime Banks, associate professor, iSchool
• Duncan Brown, vice president for research
• Renate Chancellor, associate professor, iSchool
• David Edelstein ’78, University Trustee
• Hamid Ekbia, University Professor and director, Autonomous Systems Policy Institute, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• LaVerne Gray, assistant professor, iSchool
• Christine Larsen G’84, University Trustee
• Roger Merrill, director of technology services and facilities
• Jeff Rubin, professor of practice, iSchool
• J. Cole Smith, dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jeff Stanton, professor, iSchool
• Marangelis Uben, junior, iSchool
• Bei Yu, professor, iSchool

“As a top school for data and information studies, known for producing leaders in the field, the iSchool is an integral part of the mission of Syracuse University,” Provost Ritter says. “I look forward to the work of the committee as they identify a talented leader to fill the important role of iSchool dean.”

The members will oversee an interview schedule, stakeholder meetings and all-school presentations by candidates. Management consulting firm Korn Ferry is assisting with the search. Nominations may be submitted via email to Syracuse-ischool@kornferry.com.

The iSchool is nationally recognized for innovative programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology, information services, data analytics and enterprise data systems

The forum will offer University community members the opportunity to have input regarding the position and the desired characteristics and experience of someone in that role, says Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives.

The virtual Zoom meeting takes place from 10:30 a.m. to noon .

Search Committee Named

The Office of Academic Strategic Initiatives also announced the formation of a committee consisting of faculty, staff and students to take part in the search process. Committee members are the following:

• Evan Starling Davis G’20, doctoral student in the School of Education and coordinator of the University’s Coalition of Museums and Art Centers
• Courtney (Asztalos) Hicks G’17, G’22, lead curator and curator of plastics and historical artifacts at Syracuse University Libraries
• Heather Nolin ’94, G’04, chair of the Syracuse University Art Museum Board
• Raj-Ann Rekhi Gill ’98, member of the Syracuse University Board of Trustees
• Andrew J. Saluti ’99, G’09, assistant professor and program coordinator of the museum studies program in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)
• Sascha Scott, associate professor and director of the art history graduate studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Michael A. Speaks, professor and dean of the School of Architecture, search committee chair
• Robert Wysocki, associate professor of studio arts and director of VPA’s School of Art

Installation view of “Collections Highlights: 5,500 Years of Art. (Photo by Lily LaGrange)

Haddix says the University seeks a leader “who will continue to raise the museum’s visibility, student engagement and scholarly impact to position Syracuse University to become the national standard for a research-focused academic museum.”

The person will also be looked to for creative and strategic leadership to foster collaborative, co-curricular partnerships contributing to excellence in teaching, research and the student experience.

Meow Gallery Talk at the Syracuse University Art Museum (Photo by Jeremy Brinn)

Former Art Museum Director Vanja Malloy left the role in the fall for a position at the University of Chicago. Emily Dittman G’06 is currently serving as interim executive director and Melissa Yuen is serving as interim chief curator.

The Syracuse University Art Museum holds one of the largest and most global art collections of any academic museum in the country, with more than 45,000 objects. As a member of the University’s , the art museum serves as the main campus venue for the visual arts, hosting temporary and permanent exhibitions that showcase interdisciplinary perspectives and engage diverse campus and community audiences.

The committee is composed of students, faculty and staff from the school and will be chaired by Christine (Christy) Ashby, professor of inclusive special education and disability studies and director of the Center on Disability and Inclusion. Ashby also recently served as co-chair of the Academic Strategic Plan Public Impact Working Group. Additional members of the search advisory committee include:

• Leela George, associate teaching professor, educational leadership
• Chris Johnson, associate provost for academic affairs
• Dawn Johnson, associate professor, higher education
• Jing Lei, professor and chair, instructional design, development and evaluation
• Paula Maxwell, director of information technology, School of Education
• Mario Rios Perez, associate professor, cultural foundations of education
• Sara Jo Soldovieri, graduate student, School of Education
• Savannah Stocker, undergraduate student, School of Education
• Torin Washington, assistant dean for advancement, School of Education

“The search advisory committee will play an integral role in identifying and securing an outstanding dean for the School of Education, who will oversee implementation of the school’s recent restructuring process,” says Provost Ritter. “The committee has representation from across the school, including individuals in diverse roles and with unique experiences and perspectives, and I look forward to collaborating with this group to continue elevating the School of Education at Syracuse University and ensuring its continued success.”

The search advisory committee will oversee an interview schedule, stakeholder meetings and all-school presentations by candidates, with the committee convening now and continuing its work in the early part of the Spring 2023 semester.

“The Whitman School’s reputation as a leader in business education remains strong among our peers, thanks in large part to the innovation and commitment of its talented faculty,” says Provost Ritter. “The school is poised for continued growth and will no doubt attract a competitive slate of dean candidates given how attractive the role is among higher education influencers. I am grateful to the�� members of the search committee for their service to and leadership on behalf of Syracuse University and the Whitman School and look forward to seeing the candidates they put forward.”

The co-chairs of the search committee are Maria Minniti, the Bantle Chair in Entrepreneurship and Public Policy and director of the Institute for an Entrepreneurial Society, and S.P. Raj, Distinguished Professor and chair of marketing and director of the M.S. in marketing program.

The remainder of the search committee includes:

• Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, chairman emeritus, Board of Trustees
• Anna Chernobai, professor of finance and academic director of pedagogical innovation, Whitman School
• Joseph Comprix, chair of the Joseph I. Lubin School of Accounting, professor of accounting and interim associate dean for undergraduate and master’s education, Whitman School
• Diane Crawford, executive director of institutional culture, Whitman School
• Ravi Dharwadkar, Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor of Teaching Excellence and professor and chair of management, Whitman School
• Mary-Katheryn Egger, undergraduate student, Whitman School
• Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives and Distinguished Dean’s Professor of Literacy, Race and Justice, School of Education
• Yi Huang, graduate student, Whitman School
• Julie Niederhoff, associate professor of supply chain management, co-director of the H.H. Franklin Center for Supply Chain and co-director of the Harry Salzberg Memorial Program, Whitman School
• Douglas A. Present ’86, University Trustee, Board of Trustees
• Willie Reddic, associate professor of accounting, Whitman School
• Fatma Sonmez-Leopold, associate teaching professor of finance, Whitman School
• David Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

The search firm Isaacson, Miller will assist the committee in all aspects of recruitment and selection.

“This is an incredibly important search at a critical juncture in Syracuse University and the College of Arts and Sciences history,” says Provost Ritter. “The College of Arts and Sciences plays an integral role in the academic and student experience at Syracuse University. Selecting the right leader for this role is paramount. I appreciate the willingness and diligence of the students, faculty, staff, University leaders and alumni serving on this committee. I am confident the committee will identify a future-forward pool of candidates with the experience, prowess and persistence needed to take the College of Arts and Sciences to the next level.”

The co-chairs of the search committee are Heidi Hehnly, associate professor and the Renée Crown Professor in the Sciences and Mathematics, and Brice Nordquist, associate professor and Dean’s Professor of Community Engagement. Other members of the search committee include:

• Luvell Anderson, associate professor of philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
• Carlos A. Castañeda, associate professor of biology and chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences
• Ashley Goss, undergraduate student, College of Arts and Sciences
• Katharine (Kate) Lewis, professor and chair of biology, College of Arts and Sciences
• Mark Lodato, dean, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Lisa Manning, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences
• Vivian May, professor of women’s and gender studies and director of the Humanities Center, College of Arts and Sciences
• Edward G. Mitzen ’88, University Trustee, Board of Trustees
• Catherine Montgomery, graduate student, College of Arts and Sciences
• Aesoon Park, professor and director of the Ph.D. Program in clinical psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
• John Quigley, assistant dean for advancement, College of Arts and Sciences
• Danielle Smith, professor of African American studies and director of the Renée Crown University Honors Program
• Michael G. Thonis ’72, Life Trustee, Board of Trustees
• Peter Wilcoxen, professor of public administration and international affairs, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Jamie Winders, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of geography, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

The search firm of WittKieffer will assist the committee in all aspects of recruitment and selection.

Craig Stone

Bringing extensive experience in public safety, campus security, community policing and emergency management to Syracuse University, Craig A. Stone has been appointed the new associate vice president and chief of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services. Stone most recently served as deputy director of the Department of Public Safety for the city of Columbus, Ohio. He begins his new role at Syracuse University on April 1, 2022.

The new position reports to Gwenn Judge, interim senior vice president and chief financial officer, and is responsible for Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services, including all administrative, operational and financial aspects of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Emergency Management, and Global Safety and Support.

“The search for this new position was comprehensive and attracted impressive candidates from across the nation,” says Judge. “Craig stood out in the field as a genuine leader, a bridge-builder and an innovator. I am eager to welcome him to the Orange community.”

Stone brings decades of experience to the role, with nearly 30 years as a police officer in Columbus, Ohio, including 13 years as a lieutenant in Homeland Security, Internal Affairs, Patrol and Staff Inspections, and prior service as chief of police for Cleveland State University, The Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“I am excited to join Syracuse University and work with the teams that are charged with advancing campus safety priorities,” says Stone. “I look forward to the kinds of transformative changes that will ensure a campus culture that is truly welcoming and offers a sense of safety and openness to diverse communities, thoughts and experiences.”

Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience and chief student experience officer, led the search committee supported by students, faculty and staff that recommended Stone.

“Craig impressed everyone with his depth of experience and his track record of collaborating with diverse constituencies to build trust and strengthen community relations,” says Groves. “Craig’s campus safety philosophy and his approach to community policing is responsive to and consistent with the evolving needs of students, faculty, staff and visitors. What impressed me the most was his commitment to openness, candor and collaboration. I have no doubt Craig will be an excellent addition to our community.”

In his most recent position in the city of Columbus, Stone helped develop a neighborhood violence prevention plan and worked with the Columbus City Council on legislation to improve the police hiring process. He helped expand community policing programs at OSU and, as OSU chief of police, implemented bike patrols and community police academies to build community trust.

Stone received a master of science in the administration of justice from the University of Louisville and a bachelor of business administration in organizational leadership from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He is a highly-sought-after presenter on issues ranging from risk management and crowd control to campus and community policing and high-risk drinking prevention, to diversifying police forces and biased-based profiling. Stone has also taught courses in criminal justice management and policing.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors��closes��the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together,��we’re��a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

“Though the pandemic certainly brought challenges and changes to academia throughout the nation, Syracuse University is financially strong and well-positioned for continued growth,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Our next financial leader must be an outstanding senior administrator who can take the reins and ensure our resources are prioritized in support of our academic vision and a most promising future.”

Chancellor Syverud, who will chair the search committee, hopes to have the new CFO in place by the start of the fall 2022 semester. Members of the Search Committee include:

• Steven Barnes ’82, chairman emeritus, Board of Trustees
• Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer
• J. Michael Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation
• Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff
• Elisabeth “Lisa” Fontenelli ’86, Board of Trustees Finance Committee chair and Whitman Advisory Council chair
• Professor Emily Stokes-Rees, director of the School of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Edward J. Pettinella G’76, Board of Trustees vice chair and Board Audit and Risk Committee chair
• Jeffrey M. Scruggs, Co-chair of the Board of Trustees Advisory Committee on Campus Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility and Maxwell Advisory Board member

The new CFO will succeed Gwenn Judge, who is currently serving as interim senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Later this month, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Chief Bobby Maldonado will officially retire from Syracuse University. I am grateful for Chief Maldonado’s leadership and appreciate that he delayed his retirement until the end of the fall semester.

A search to succeed Chief Maldonado is well underway. The search committee, led by Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience, and made up of students, faculty and staff, recently completed the first round of virtual interviews. The committee has identified candidates to move to the next phase of the search. I look forward to meeting with them after the holiday break. Many campus stakeholders will also be meeting with these candidates, including the Community Review Board, academic leaders, student leaders, faculty and staff. Our goal is to conclude the search in the spring semester and announce the new chief before Commencement.

During this transition period, an interim leadership team will provide oversight to the Department of Public Safety. This leadership team includes Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff, Dan French, senior vice president and general counsel, and Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience. These senior leaders have extensive experience overseeing and working with campus public safety units and law enforcement agencies.

The University and DPS will continue put forth by former Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and her review team. This includes the inaugural , which has been meeting regularly to carry out its important work. I am pleased by the progress made to date and look forward to welcoming a new leader for DPS in the spring.

Sincerely,

Kent Syverud
Chancellor and President

Student Session
Friday, Dec. 10
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET

Faculty and Staff Session
Friday, Dec. 17
10-11 a.m. ET

The vice president for diversity and inclusion will be instrumental in Syracuse University’s ongoing commitment to advancing academic excellence in a university welcoming to all. To fill this role, the University seeks a courageous diversity leader who will foster a commitment to access, opportunity and inclusion and understands the importance of providing an education informed by multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems.

The search committee, announced earlier this fall, is co-chaired by Cerri A. Banks ’00, G’04, G’06, vice president of student success and deputy to the senior vice president of the student experience, and Brian Konkol, dean of Hendricks Chapel. Executive search firm WittKieffer is assisting the University with the search.

In addition to the campuswide sessions, the search committee will meet with several constituent groups across campus to gather information and insight. Those who cannot attend the sessions may submit feedback regarding the search or nominate candidates via the confidential search email address, SyracuseVPDI@wittkieffer.com.

As Syracuse University’s new vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer, Gretchen Ritter says her first priority during the coming weeks and months will be to get to know the faculty and students of her new campus community.

“I look forward to going on tours, visiting labs and studios, getting acquainted with colleagues from across the campus,” Ritter said, during a welcome event Tuesday, Oct. 12. “I want to thank you in advance for sharing with me your insights about what makes Syracuse special and your good ideas about how we might achieve even greater levels of impact and excellence.”

Provost Gretchen Ritter

In those necessary conversations, Ritter also wants to express her own values—including one core value that “we are all here for the faculty and the students.”

“That is because it is through the research and creative excellence of the faculty that we expand knowledge and human understanding,” Ritter said. “And it is by enabling the talents and ambitions of our great students that we enrich the world with emerging leaders who will help us to imagine and achieve a better future for all of us.”

Ritter was named vice chancellor, provost and chief academic officer in June 2021 after a global search. About 150 campus community members gathered Oct. 12 in the Ilene and David Flaum Grand Hall, Whitman School of Management, to officially welcome Ritter, who started her new role on Oct. 1. The event was also .

Before getting to know more about the University as a candidate for the position, Ritter said she knew about Syracuse University mostly through its reputation—hearing from colleagues at her previous institutions about the programs and people that define Syracuse and the breadth and depth of its academic excellence.

In meeting and hearing from the Search Committee members, who she described as thoughtful about the University’s challenges and opportunities and deeply committed to the impact the University has on the world, Ritter gained an even fuller understanding of Syracuse University.

“I saw a campus community that is committed to public service, that cares deeply about the success and well-being of the students, that has embraced inclusive excellence and that was hungry for an opportunity to prioritize academic excellence,” Ritter said. “One of the phrases I heard first once and then repeatedly in my interviews and conversations was the self-description: ‘I bleed orange.’ From faculty, alumni, parents and students—what comes across is a deep commitment to what can be done as a member of this community.”

Speaking at the event, Chancellor Kent Syverud said the University and its people have made much progress over the past two years, despite the challenges in the world, and have been through many transitions.

“And now we have a long-term provost in office. And that’s a transition we need to embrace and support—all of us,” Chancellor Syverud said. “We have a provost in office who is a fine scholar, an experienced academic leader who’s seen and led at other top universities. And we have a person who is deeply thoughtful and caring about both our faculty and our students.”

Chancellor Kent Syverud at welcome event for Provost Gretchen Ritter

Chancellor Syverud noted Ritter’s accomplishments as a respected political scientist; her leadership as an administrator; her support for expanded faculty research and cross-collaboration; her work with faculty and leadership to secure philanthropy; her unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access; and her focus on enhancing learning inside and outside of the classroom.

“She is a keen listener, as you’ve heard, and a strong communicator. These qualities will serve her well as the leader of us as an academic community,” said Chancellor Syverud. “I think she will carry this student-focused international research university into a really wonderful new era.”

Two members of the Provost Search Committee, Kira Reed, associate professor of management in the Whitman School of Management and Provost Faculty Fellow, and Jamie Winders, professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and committee chair, also welcomed Ritter at the event.

Jamie Winders

Winders explained how the search committee met with many people on campus—faculty, students and staff—to find out the most important issues the next provost should address and the qualities and qualifications for that person.

In conversations with Ritter, the committee members “became more and more convinced that she was what our campus charged us to find in our next provost, that her ability to ask the right—if tough—questions, her vision for where Syracuse University could go, and how to get there, and her deep commitment to working with faculty and all other parts of campus to place our academic mission at the center of everything we do, made her our ideal provost,” Winders said.

Yousr Dhaouadi, a doctoral student in Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science and president of the Graduate Student Association, said she was honored to speak at the event on behalf of the student body, which will work with the new provost to continue to strengthen academic excellence.

Dhaouadi spoke of how Ritter had reached out to meet with the Graduate Student Organization, the Student Association and other student entities before the start of the semester.

“I want to thank Dr. Ritter for making students an important part of her first few weeks at Syracuse,” Dhaouadi said. “I am humbled to be a part of such a remarkable and talented community here at Syracuse, and on behalf of Syracuse students, we look forward to working with you Dr. Ritter.”

Following the July announcement of the extension of the search, Allen Groves, senior vice president for the student experience, stepped into the role of search committee chair and assembled a new group of students, faculty and staff charged with finding a pool of candidates for the chief role.

The new chief will oversee the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Emergency Management, Global Safety and Support, and CSEMS administrative and technical support. The selected candidate will be charged with implementing the recommendations made by the independent review of DPS, which was recently conducted by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to create, embrace and advance a new model of campus safety.

“This search comes at an important time as we reimagine the way we deliver a campus safety model that is responsive to the evolving needs of students. I look forward to working with the students, faculty and staff on the search committee to identify candidates who will support our students and engage all members of our campus community in creating a welcoming, safe environment for all,” says Groves.

In addition to Groves as chair, the search committee also includes the following members:

• David Bruen, undergraduate student and Student Association president
• Raj Dewan, dean, School of Information Studies
• Yousr Dhaouadi, president, Graduate Student Organization
• Mazaher Kaila, executive president, Student Bar Association
• Kris Klinger, senior associate vice president, Auxiliary Services
• Brice Nordquist, associate professor and dean’s professor of community engagement, writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Gabe Nugent, deputy general counsel
• Andrew Saluti, assistant professor, museum studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Sarah Scalese, senior associate vice president for communications
• Salatha Willis, associate athletic director for diversity, culture and climate

The University has retained the firm of Spelman Johnson for the search. The position description will be posted on the Syracuse University Job Board shortly.

“The significance of this position and its impact on the campus community has grown over the years,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Not only does the chief diversity and inclusion officer provide leadership, oversight and vision, but the leader plays a pivotal role in how we move forward collaboratively and urgently in implementing initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.”

Other members of the search committee are:

• Jorge Castillo, Director, LGBTQ Resources Center
• Raj Dewan, Dean, School of Information Studies
• James Duah-Agyeman, Director, Student Support, Diversity and Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Christopher Hamilton, Assistant Professor, Television, Radio and Film
• Brittnee Johnson, Graduate Student Representative
• Regina Jones, Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs
• Malique Lewis, Undergraduate Student Representative
• Jennifer Mathews, Director, International Admissions, Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on DACA/Undocumented Students
• Gladys McCormick, Associate Dean, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
• Suzette Melendez, Director, Children’s Rights and Family Law Clinic, Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion, College of Law
• William Myhill, Interim Director and ADA/503/504 Coordinator, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution
• Paula Possenti-Perez, Director, Center for Disability Services
• Sarah Scalese, Senior Associate Vice President for Communications
• Jeffrey M. Scruggs, Board of Trustees, Co-Lead, Trustee Advisory Committee on University Climate, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
• Juan Tavares, Director, Center for International Services
• Raymond Toenniessen, Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives

The search committee will partner with University leadership, and consult with Vice Chancellor and Provost Gretchen Ritter and Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Andy Gordon, during the search process. The search firm of WittKeifer will assist the committee in all aspects of recruitment and selection.

Congratulations to everyone for reaching the end of a hectic semester! I’m writing with a quick update on the search for our next provost.

First, let me say thank you to everyone who took time to meet with the Provost Search Committee in one of the 30 or so consultative sessions we hosted earlier this semester. The feedback and insight you provided in these sessions played an incredibly important role in helping our committee identify the most important traits, skills and perspectives we should be seeking in our next provost.

Second, let me say thank you to the faculty, students, staff, alumni and Board of Trustees members on our and to the team of staff providing support to us as a committee. These folks have devoted long hours to this search and made significant sacrifices to carve out time for this work. They’ve reviewed a very large, deep and compelling pool of candidates. They’ve given careful and thoughtful consideration to one another’s perspectives. They’ve asked important and difficult questions in our deliberations and encouraged us all to reflect on our decisions from multiple perspectives. Most importantly, they’ve oriented their assessments of applicants to what they see as the best path forward for our university. A hearty thanks to them for this work.

We recently completed the first round of interviews for our provost search and will soon be conducting a second round of interviews with a small group of finalists about whom the committee is particularly excited. We had an incredibly strong pool of candidates, and narrowing that pool down to finalists wasn’t easy. Our search, however, is on schedule for our committee to complete its work in early June, with the hopes of having a new provost in place to start our Fall 2021 semester.

There has been immense enthusiasm from candidates about all the exciting developments at Syracuse University, as well as all the opportunities for moving us forward as an institution. We, as a search committee, have been honored to work on this provost search and appreciate all the support and guidance we’ve received from our campus.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact . You can also keep up with progress on our search at our , which includes an up-to-date for our work.

All the best,

Jamie Winders
Chair, Provost Search Committee

With the search for the University’s new chief, campus safety and emergency management services (CSEMS) underway, members of the campus community are invited to attend a consultative session with members of the search committee and our partner, Spelman Johnson, on Thursday, April 29, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. ET and Friday, April 30, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. ET. Two sessions will be offered to allow multiple opportunities to attend and participate; it is not necessary to attend both sessions. Those interested can . A Zoom link will be shared with registrants prior to the session.

These sessions will give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to provide input on the characteristics, experiences and background you feel should be included in deliberations on the University’s new chief. Specifically, the committee would like to hear your thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the Syracuse University community, higher education and the incoming chief.

If you are unable to attend the consultative session, you may also submit feedback or nominate a candidate for the new chief by emailing hjl@spelmanandjohnson.com.

We look forward to the feedback and collaboration of the campus community in conducting a robust national search for our new chief.

Sincerely,

Amir Rahnamay-Azar
Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer

The new chief will oversee the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Emergency Management, Global Safety and Support, and CSEMS administrative and technical support. The selected candidate will be charged with implementing the recommendations made by the independent review of DPS, which was recently conducted by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to create, embrace and advance a new model of campus safety.

“The search committee includes a diverse array of outstanding students, faculty and staff from our campus community,” says Rahnamay-Azar. “This is a critical search for us, and I am grateful to the members of the committee for dedicating their time and energy to helping identify outstanding candidates. The successful candidate will play a key role in transforming our approach to student engagement and campus safety.”

The search committee will be co-chaired by Herm Frazier, senior deputy athletics director, and Lynsay Belshe, senior associate vice president for operations in the BFAS division. The search committee also includes the following members:

• Craig Boise, dean, College of Law
• Mirjavad Hashemi, president, Graduate Student Organization
• Rob Hradsky, vice president for the student experience
• Brice Nordquist, associate professor and dean’s professor of community engagement, writing studies, rhetoric and composition, College of Arts and Sciences
• Neal Powless, University ombuds
• Andrew Saluti, assistant professor, museum studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Adia Santos, undergraduate student
• Kailee Vick, student member of the advisory committee on public safety

The University has engaged the firm of Spelman Johnson for the search, which is expected to be completed by the end of June. The position description is now posted on the and .

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.

“This is a critical time for Syracuse University and all institutions of higher education, as we call upon leadership to adapt to the rapid pace of change and the unprecedented demands posed by the global pandemic,” says Chancellor Syverud. “Our next provost must be the kind of person who not only inspires innovative and creative thinking that defines academic excellence, but one who has also demonstrated the ability to bring diverse voices and experiences together to lead through challenging times, seize opportunities and achieve strategic goals that redefine the student experience.”

Given the global nature and impact of the University’s academic reach and research portfolio, the search for the new provost and chief academic officer will be a global one. Executive search firm WittKieffer will support the search process to identify an array of diverse and qualified candidates.

Jamie Winders, professor of geography in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will chair the committee. Winders currently serves as faculty representative to the Syracuse University Board of Trustees, participates, ex officio, on the Board’s Academic Affairs Committee, and reports to the board at its Executive Committee and full board meetings. The search committee, with the support of the University Senate, includes deans, faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees.

• Sharif Bey, associate professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Duncan Brown, professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Dan Cutler, director of learning communities
• Carol Fadda, associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences
• Tula Goenka, professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Marcelle Haddix, professor, School of Education
• Can Isik, professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Laurel Morton, instructor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
• Christine Larsen G’84, University Trustee
• Jeff Pauline, associate professor, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
• Louise Phanstiel, University Trustee
• Amir Rahnamay-Azar, senior vice president of Business, Finance and Administrative Services and chief financial officer
• Kira Reed, associate professor, Whitman School of Management
• Steve Sawyer, professor, School of Information Studies
• Michael Schwartz, associate professor, College of Law
• Yutaka Sho, associate professor, School of Architecture
• Michael Speaks, dean, School of Architecture
• Howard Woolley ’80, University Trustee
• Student representation will be selected by student organization leaders.

Chancellor Syverud has set an aggressive timeline for the search, with the goal of announcing a new provost before summer 2021.

The selected candidate will succeed M. Dolan Evanovich, who retired in June. The University has engaged the firm of Witt Keiffer for the search, which is expected to be completed in May and the position filled in summer 2021.

In the interim, the division is led by Robert D. Hradsky, Ed.D., vice president for the student experience; Ryan Williams, vice president of enrollment services; and Brittany Zaehringer, senior associate vice president of operations and strategic initiatives.

“This search committee, composed of key stakeholders in our university community, will conduct this national search to find the next leader of the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience,” says Chancellor Syverud. “This leader will partner with other campus leaders to ensure we continue our important work to improve and enhance the student experience.”

The search committee will be chaired by Candace Campbell Jackson, senior vice president and chief of staff to Chancellor Syverud, and J. Cole Smith, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The search committee includes the following members:

• George Athanas, director of residence life. A longtime member of the University’s residence life staff, Athanas previously worked in Student Centers and Programming Services and was the interim director of the Center for International Services.
• Steve Bennett, senior vice president for international programs and academic operations and chief of staff, Academic Affairs. Bennett oversees academic operations for administrative units that report to the Office of the Provost, including Information Technology, Syracuse Abroad and satellite facilities around the U.S. and the globe. He also works closely with the provost and their leadership team on planning and budgetary matters.
• Shelly L. Fisher ’80, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, serving on the Board’s Enrollment and Student Experience Committee. She is CEO and founder of the Pay It Forward Group LLC, the parent company for , and, all supporting students and initiatives that make positive contributions to communities. She is a member of the Newhouse School Advisory Board.
• Ryan Golden ’21, a religion major in the College of Arts and Sciences and a policy studies and political science major in the College of Arts and Sciences in the Maxwell School. Golden is vice president of the Student Association.
• Maurice Harris, dean of admissions. In that role, Harris provides leadership for a comprehensive admissions strategy that is innovative, forward looking and consistent with the goals, mission and vision of Syracuse University.
• Huey Hsiao, associate director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Kessler Presidential Scholars Program. He provides leadership and direction on programming that enriches the University’s diverse campus culture and results in students’ academic, social and personal success.
• Cydney Johnson ’77, G’96, vice president for community engagement and government relations. Johnson supports and advances the University’s state, local, government and community efforts and strategies.
• Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick, deputy athletics administrator and senior women administrator for Syracuse Athletics. Keenan-Kirkpatrick is the sport supervisor for women’s basketball, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer and cross country/track and field; oversees the student-athlete development staff and serves as liaison with the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion and Resolution Services.
• Estheralice (Esther) Lopez ’22, a photojournalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Lopez is a Posse Scholar, internal development chair for OrangeSeeds and is an InclusiveU residential mentor.
• Jeffrey Mangram ’88, G’89, Ph.D. ’06, associate professor of teaching and leadership in the School of Education. A Provost’s Faculty Fellow, Mangram redesigned the curriculum of SEM 100 for the Spring and Fall 2020 semesters. The six-week course for first-year and transfer students intends to create thought-provoking discourse around topics of race, identity, inclusion and social equity.
• Reinaldo (Rey) Pascual ’85, member of the University’s Board of Trustees, is chair of the Board’s Enrollment and Student Experience Committee and serves on the Board’s Executive, Advancement and External Affairs and Finance committees. He is founder of Pascual LLC, a specialty corporate law firm providing high-level strategic advice and general counsel services to a select group of entrepreneurial clients, and is general counsel and member of the operating committee of ExWorks Capital, LLC, a senior-secured lender to small businesses.
• Paula Possenti-Perez, director of Center for Disability Resources. Possenti-Perez oversees the work of the center, which mitigates competitive disadvantages and environmental barriers that impact learning, by supporting faculty in the classroom and colleagues across the University to strive for universal design and full inclusion. The center provides individual academic adjustments when environmental barriers cannot be eliminated and assistive technology.
• Dara Royer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Royer is responsible for oversight of the University’s internal and external marketing efforts, including strategic marketing campaigns, digital and content marketing and brand stewardship.
• Cory Wallack, executive director of health and wellness, Barnes Center at The Arch. A licensed psychologist, Wallack previously served as director of the Counseling Center.

The co-chairs of the search committee are Craig Boise, dean of the College of Law, and John Wildhack, director of athletics. Other members of the search committee are the following:

• Kelly Barnett, director of career development, Newhouse School
• Hub Brown, associate dean for research, creativity, international initiatives and diversity and associate professor of broadcast and digital journalism, Newhouse School
• Jonathan Chau, undergraduate student, Newhouse School
• Laura Canuelas-Torres, graduate student, Newhouse School
• Amy Falkner, interim dean of the Newhouse School and associate professor of advertising
• Hua Jiang, associate professor of public relations, Newhouse School
• Joel Kaplan, associate dean for professional graduate studies and professor of magazine, news and digital journalism, Newhouse School
• Lawrence Kramer ’72, Board of Trustees member, Newhouse Advisory Board member
• Jeffery Mangram, associate professor, School of Education
• Anne Osborne, professor of communications, Newhouse School
• Olivia Stomski, director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center, and professor of practice of television, radio and film, Newhouse School
• Mike Tirico ’88, Board of Trustees member, Newhouse Advisory Board member

“I appreciate the members of the newly appointed search committee for taking on such an important role—helping identify the next leader of the Newhouse School to follow the indelible work done by Dean Branham,” Wheatly says. “The world-class Newhouse School is such an incredible place and training ground for our future communicators, who play such an important role in our democracy and helping us understand the events and forces shaping our global society. I am certain the new dean, selected with the assistance of the search committee, will continue to guide the Newhouse School on its legacy of excellence.”

A process to select a national executive search firm to support the search committee is underway, and a firm is expected to be selected this month. Following the selection of the firm, the search committee will meet in July. The search committee chairs will provide regular updates to the Newhouse community.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York state, with a global footprint and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience, as well as innovative online learning environments. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths. At Syracuse University, we offer a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges and 18 online degree programs. We have more than 15,000 undergraduates and 7,500 graduate students, more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit .

David Seaman

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Michele Wheatly today announced that the search for the next dean of the School of Information Studies (iSchool) has been extended. In addition, Wheatly announced the appointment of Dean of Libraries and University Librarian David Seaman, to the interim position of iSchool dean. Seaman will take on the additional responsibilities upon the retirement of longtime iSchool Dean Liz Liddy later this month.

“David is uniquely qualified to serve both the libraries and the iSchool at this critical time,” says Wheatly. “He has been chairing the Dean Search Committee for the iSchool since last November and is fully aware of the qualities needed in its next leader. David’s breadth of experience in a collaborative academic environment, his work ethic and willingness to step up and step into an additional role are just what the iSchool needs right now as it transitions to new leadership.”

Seaman will step down as chair of the search committee while it continues its work into the next academic year. Wheatly will announce a new search committee chair in the coming weeks. Additionally, Wheatly says she expects many of the current search committee members will continue serving on the committee.

One of Syracuse University’s most prestigious colleges, the iSchool is nationally recognized for innovative programs in information policy, information behavior, information management, information systems, information technology, information services, data analytics and enterprise data systems. Reporting to the provost, the iSchool dean collaborates with the 12 deans of the University’s other schools and colleges and oversees 50 tenure-track faculty members, professors of practice and teaching faculty, along with about 50 staff.

“The iSchool is at the forefront of transformative change in the digital age,” says Seaman.�� “The next Dean must be the kind of leader who can shepherd the school during a time when its disciplines are in increasingly high demand by undergraduate, professional and graduate students. I am honored to serve in an interim capacity and to work with deans and faculty across the campus to advance the research agenda and ensure academic excellence at the iSchool.”

Seaman was appointed University librarian and dean of the Syracuse University Libraries in June 2015, after nearly a decade at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was also previously executive director of the Digital Library Federation in Washington, D.C., a consortium of 40 major academic libraries and organizations dedicated to using digital standards and technologies to extend their collections and services.

Wheatly notes that Seaman’s leadership of the libraries has involved building collaborative relationships and strong academic and scholarly connections between the University’s libraries and its schools and colleges. “Our libraries and the iSchool are tremendous resources for the entire Syracuse University community. David has led a skilled library staff in delivering the services necessary to drive 21st-century research, teaching and learning, and to provide innovative spaces for study, collaboration and innovation.”

Consistently ranked among the top five programs of its kind in the country by��U.S. News & World Report, the iSchool offers degree programs at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels; master’s programs are available both on campus and online.

The committee was appointed by Chancellor Syverud on April 16. It is responsible for identifying candidates and submitting finalists for consideration to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. The goal of the committee is to identify the candidate(s) who will best serve as the University’s chief academic officer and represent all aspects of the academic mission.

Committee members represent faculty, staff, students and the Board of Trustees. Aysha A. Seedat ’16, a policy studies major and president-elect of the Student Association, will serve as the undergraduate student representative. Vice Chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs J. Michael Haynie will serve as the Chancellor’s liaison to the search committee. In addition, the search committee will select a search firm very soon.

SU Board of Trustees Chairman Richard L. Thompson G’67, today announced the full membership of the Chancellor Search Committee and new details about the search process that will identify Syracuse University’s 12th Chancellor and President.

The Search Committee, chaired by Trustee Vice Chair Judge Joanne F. Alper ’72, will be comprised of trustees, faculty representatives, student representatives, a staff member representative, a dean’s representative and a representative from the Chancellor’s cabinet. The committee’s charge will be to identify and recommend potential candidates for the board to consider.

“Judge Alper has launched the search on precisely the path needed to select the next Chancellor for the University,” says Thompson. “A hallmark of the SU community long has been its distinctive inclusiveness, and Joanne has overseen the composition of both an open search process and an outstanding search committee that assures us of benefiting from the best thinking of SU’s broad constituencies.”

The Board of Trustees has retained the executive search firm Spencer Stuart to assist with the identification of highly qualified candidates. In addition, a new website dedicated exclusively to the search process will launch in the coming weeks. A campus-wide survey and several open forums will also be held to allow members of the campus community, local community and alumni the opportunity to provide input on the academic, professional and personal credentials and qualities they believe are important for the next Chancellor.

“I look forward to working with the Search Committee to conduct a comprehensive and thorough search for the next chancellor,” Alper says. “Among the steps we will take to assure an open process will be providing ample opportunity for stakeholders across the campus community to articulate their aspirations and offer input. I am especially hopeful that our alumni from coast to coast and around the world will seize this opportunity to engage as stewards of this institution that means so much to all of us. I am confident that we will attract candidates of the highest caliber.”

The faculty representatives and the staff member representative to the search committee were recommended by the University Senate’s Agenda Committee; student representatives were recommended by the Student Association and Graduate Student Organization; the dean, cabinet, and Office of the Board of Trustees representatives were appointed by Thompson.

The following is a full list of the Chancellor Search Committee members:

Faculty Representatives

Kris Byron, Whitman School of Management
Martha Garcia-Murillo, School of Information Studies
Dawn Johnson, School of Education
Deborah Pellow, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
Kendall Phillips, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Eric Schiff, College of Arts and Sciences
Radhakrishna Sureshkumar, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science
Silvio Torres-Saillant, College of Arts and Sciences

Student Representatives

PJ Alampi, junior, College of Visual and Performing Arts
Ivan Rosales-Robles, sophomore, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
Patrick Neary, doctoral student, College of Arts and Sciences

Staff Representative

Ryan Williams, associate vice president, Enrollment Management, and director of Scholarships & Student Aid

Dean Representative

Ann Clarke, dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts

Cabinet Representative
Tom Walsh, executive vice president for Advancement and External Affairs

Office of the Board of Trustees
Lil Breul O’Rourke, secretary to the Board of Trustees and vice president, Principal Gifts

Board of Trustees Members
Joanne F. Alper ’72, Search Committee Chair
Peter A. Horvitz ’76
Christine E. Larsen G’84
Robert J. Miron ’59
Judith C. Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, G’84
Deryck A. Palmer ’78
Reinaldo Pascual ’85
Chairman Richard L. Thompson, G’67, *ex officio member

Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor announced in October that she will conclude her tenure as Chancellor when her current contract ends in June 2014. The search for a new Chancellor is expected to take at least one year.

All media inquiries for Chairman Thompson, Search Chair Judge Alper, or trustees should be directed to Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs, at 315-443-8338.

Syracuse University Board of Trustees Chairman Richard L. Thompson today announced the formation of a search committee to select the next chancellor and president of Syracuse University, and he has asked board vice chair, retired Judge Joanne F. Alper ’72, to chair the search committee.

Also announced were six other Trustees to serve on the committee: Peter A. Horvitz ’76, Christine E. Larsen G’84, Robert J. Miron ’59, Judith C. Mower ’66, G’73, G’80, G’84, Deryck A. Palmer ’78 and Reinaldo Pascual ’85. Chairman Thompson will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.

On Oct. 25, Thompson met with Senate Agenda Committee Chair Bruce Carter to discuss recommending faculty, students and staff for the committee. Once the Senate Committee completes its recommendations and they are reviewed by the Trustees, a schedule of next steps will be released in December.

Elizabeth Breul O’Rourke, secretary to the Board of Trustees, will serve as secretary to the search committee.

All media inquiries for Chairman Thompson and Board of Trustees members should be directed to Kevin Quinn, senior vice president for public affairs, at 315-443-8338. ��

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