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Dear ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Community,

After ten years leading the University, Dr. Christine M. Riordan is concluding her service as the 10th president of ¹û½´ÊÓƵ.

During her tenure, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ has been elevated to become a nationally recognized, modern metropolitan university. Dr. Riordan spearheaded the development of the University’s Momentum and Momentum 2 strategic plans with increasingly innovative goals and thoughtful input from thousands of students, alumni, faculty and staff. Results included the launch of more than 50 new academic degree programs, completion of the major renovation of the Ruth S. Harley University Center, and the opening of the Nexus academic building that houses ¹û½´ÊÓƵ’s top-ranked nursing school. During this period, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ achieved a record-high student retention rate and was repeatedly recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, student social mobility, and alumni outcomes, with ¹û½´ÊÓƵ graduates earning salaries that are 39% higher than the national average. ¹û½´ÊÓƵ also saw a dramatic rise in national rankings, including being named the highest-ranked university on Long Island by The Wall Street Journal. The University experienced a surge in philanthropic support, leading to growth in the endowment and progress toward reaching the $100 million fundraising goal of The Momentum Campaign: Extraordinary Impact. As a testament to its financial strength, the University was repeatedly given an A– credit rating with a stable outlook by Standard & Poor’s, most recently reaffirmed in spring 2025.

We recognize Dr. Riordan’s leadership and commitment to the ¹û½´ÊÓƵ community. We thank her for her service and lasting contributions, and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

The board has appointed ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Provost and Executive Vice President Christopher Storm, Jr., as interim president, effective immediately. Interim President Storm brings a deep commitment to our University and community. He joined ¹û½´ÊÓƵ in 2007 as an assistant professor of mathematics, became part of the Provost’s Office in 2016 as an associate provost, and was appointed provost in 2021.

Dr. Storm has led the University through several challenges, including ensuring seamless, high-quality academic offerings before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; leading the most recent negotiations resulting in the faculty collective bargaining agreement; and expanding the prioritization of scholarship and creative works within the Provost’s Office. He has championed key initiatives that have elevated academic programs and enriched the student academic experience, including the creation of the Scholars Pursuing Arts, Research and Knowledge Center (known as the SPARK Center), which focuses on embedding research into the academic experience for all undergraduates at ¹û½´ÊÓƵ. He relaunched the Innovation Center under new, energetic leadership with a goal of making the center a vibrant hub of education and collaboration. In seeing these initiatives through, he has done so with faculty engagement and, in many cases, has looked to the faculty for leadership in key areas. He is an experienced and trusted leader at the University, and we are fortunate to have his leadership as interim president.

The board will soon launch a national search for ¹û½´ÊÓƵ’s 11th president, and we look forward to sharing more information about this process.

Throughout this transition, the board will partner closely with Interim President Storm and the administration to support our community. Our University’s mission has never been more critical, and we will be working to strengthen ¹û½´ÊÓƵ and continue creating extraordinary educational opportunities for students and families.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Balboni ‘81
Chair, ¹û½´ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees