Syracuse University Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor awarded new contract through 2014

Kevin C. Quinn
315-443-8338

The Syracuse University Board of Trustees‘ Compensation Committee and Executive Committee voted unanimously at their June meeting to award Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor a new contract that will extend and solidify the mutual commitment between the Chancellor and the University through 2014.

Cantor’s current contract, which began with her arrival in 2004, was scheduled to end in 2010. The new contract awarded by the board replaces that contract and extends an additional four years to 2014.

John Chapple, chairman of the Board of Trustees, says that in awarding the new contract to Cantor board members are recognizing her dynamic leadership and Scholarship in Action vision, which has spurred intellectual, social and physical revitalization across the University.

“In just a few years, Nancy has worked with students, faculty and staff to leverage SU’s historic strengths, foster innovation and creativity, and connect us in profound ways with the community, all of which has increased our quality and national visibility,” Chapple says. “The board’s confidence in Nancy is affirmed by numerous external accolades — from the exceptional report on SU recently completed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to her receipt last week of the Carnegie Corporation’s prestigious Academic Leadership Award. The University is fortunate to have a leader of Nancy’s caliber. We are delighted that we were able to secure Nancy as Chancellor and proud that she has made a long-term commitment to the University. We look forward to continuing to work with her in the years ahead in pursuit of Scholarship in Action.”

“We have tremendous confidence in Nancy’s vision and leadership,” says Robert Miron, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and a member of its Compensation Committee. “Her passion for and success in connecting SU to our communities, both locally and globally, has been a superb asset not just to our students and faculty but to the City of Syracuse and Central New York. We are fortunate that Nancy will continue to lead the University into what we know is a bright, exciting future.”

Chapple specifically noted record-setting enthusiasm for the University’s current $1 billion capital campaign — its most ambitious ever. To date, just eight months into the campaign’s public phase, more than $560 million has been raised. He also highlighted unprecedented demand from prospective students to attend SU, with a record number of applications each year for the past three years.

“Nancy has been a dynamic leader for the entire University and played a critically important role as we forge ahead with our most ambitious capital campaign ever,” says Deryck Palmer, vice chair of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of The Campaign for Syracuse University. “She has not only excited and engaged longstanding, established donors about SU’s vision, accomplishments and future, but ignited strong interest and commitment from a new level of supporters. It will be a huge benefit to the campaign to have the continuity of Nancy’s leadership.”

Last week, Cantor received the Carnegie Corporation’s 2008 Academic Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals whose uncompromising commitment to academic excellence and bold, visionary leadership are establishing new standards in higher education. Carnegie cited her efforts to elevate the national reputation of SU through Scholarship in Action and actively engage with the surrounding community, nation and the world.