Dear Members of the University Community,
We write to you today with an update on the search for the next president of Fordham.
Since the beginning of the academic year, WittKieffer and members of the search committee have conducted almost 30 listening sessions with faculty (including several groups such as department chairs and the Faculty Senate), staff (including several groups such as the President’s Cabinet and the academic deans), students, trustees, key donors, alumni, and parents—a number of these sessions were open forums that anyone could attend. At these sessions, we asked for and received input on topics such as aspirations for Fordham, desired candidate qualifications, opportunities and challenges for the new president, and Fordham points of pride that we should emphasize with candidates.
The themes that emerged from those sessions are contained in the Leadership Profile, which all candidates receive, and which we think you will find useful in understanding the kind of leader we hope to bring to Fordham. We would also recommend you visit the Presidential Search site, which in addition to the Leadership Profile includes key dates in the process, the names of the search committee members, a form for community input, candidate resources, and links to all the previous communications about the search. You may still offer your thoughts on the search via the Community Input page, or by emailing FordhamPresident@wittkieffer.
The search is proceeding on schedule. The committee, aided by the executive search firm WittKieffer, is assembling a diverse pool of talented candidates with Fordham’s academic mission, reputation, and Jesuit, Catholic character at the forefront of their efforts. As we announced in September, we expect the search committee to identify and present its leading candidates to the Board of Trustees by early in 2022, and the Board intends to announce the new president of the University in the spring.
We expect to give you an update on our efforts in early January. In the meantime, we wish you a peaceful and happy holiday season and a bright new year.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Daleo, Chair
Fordham University Board of Trustees
Gabelli School of Business, Class of 1972
