In recognition of his 11 years of service working tirelessly to advance academic and research excellence, elevate the student experience and create a campus community that is truly welcoming to all, Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud has received the 2024 TIAA Institute Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence.
Sponsored by the TIAA Institute and administered by the American Council on Education (ACE), the award is named after the former president of the University of Notre Dame, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., H’73, who was a civil rights leader and longtime TIAA board member. It’s presented to a current college or university president or chancellor for outstanding leadership of their institution and broad impact on higher education and society.
Pictured from left to right are Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education; Dr. Ruth Chen, Professor of Practice in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Chancellor Kent Syverud. (Photo by Lisa Helfert Photography)
“I am honored to receive this award, in particular because it honors Father Hesburgh, who was a higher education hero and who was born and raised in Syracuse,” Chancellor Syverud says. “I am grateful to be recognized by my peers for leading at a time of transformational change for Syracuse University and for higher education.”
“The TIAA Institute is proud to recognize Chancellor Syverud for all the ways his leadership has benefitted his school, his community and higher education as a whole,” says Surya Kolluri, head of the TIAA Institute. “He has demonstrated a deep commitment to bettering the lives of our nation’s veterans and other military connected individuals, unrelenting advocacy to create a sense of belonging among Syracuse students and a collaborative, tenacious approach to supporting and advancing transformative economic development in the Central New York region.”
As a result of Chancellor Syverud’s leadership and vision, there are now more than 1,000 veteran and military-connected students at Syracuse—a number that’s grown by 60% since he became Chancellor in 2014—and the school has been honored by the Military Times as being one of the “Best for Vets.” Chancellor Syverud has helped overhaul admissions processes, registration procedures, credit transfer policies, new student orientation and housing policies to align with the unique needs of military-connected students and to make entry to Syracuse University more achievable and seamless.
Chancellor Syverud positioned Syracuse University as a key partner in attracting Micron Technology, which in fall of 2022 announced plans to build a $100 billion semiconductor fabrication facility near the University—the largest investment and facility of its kind in the United States. Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families will support the company’s plans to hire more than 1,500 veterans in the region.
At the time of the announcement, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. L’68, H’09 said, “This is going to ensure that the future is made in America.”
In addition to his work with veterans, during his tenure Chancellor Syverud has overseen significant transformation of the campus and the creation of innovative new programs that position Syracuse students for career success. For example, under Chancellor Syverud’s leadership, the University has built the first of its kind National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building; reimagined the Schine Student Center, which serves as the hub of student life at Syracuse; and overseen the transformation of the Barnes Center at The Arch, a holistic student health and wellness facility. Known for pushing his colleagues to think entrepreneurially, Chancellor Syverud’s leadership also led to the College of Law establishing one of the first online J.D. degree programs in the nation.
“Kent Syverud exemplifies what institutions and students need from a higher education leader: an individual who can convey an inspirational vision and ensure that it is turned into a reality that results in greater student access and success and a stronger institution,” says ACE President Ted Mitchell. “It is an honor to join with the TIAA Institute in paying tribute to all that Kent has accomplished at Syracuse University and the other institutions where over the years he also has made such a positive difference in the lives of his students.”
Established in 1993, the Hesburgh Award recognizes leadership and commitment to higher education and contributions to the greater good. It’s presented to a current college or university president or chancellor who embodies the spirit of the late Rev. Hesburgh, who was appointed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the newly created Civil Rights Commission. The winner is selected by an independent panel of judges. To learn more, visit the TIAA Institute’s Awards page.
