Message From Chancellor Search Committee Co-Chairs

Friday, Sept. 19, 2025

Dear Syracuse University Community:

As a follow up to the message you received from us earlier this week, we are writing to share the membership of the Search Committee for the University’s next chancellor and president. This group represents the breadth of our community—students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees—each bringing a vital perspective to this historic process. They are:

  • Richard M. Alexander L’82, vice chair, Board of Trustees
  • Joanne F. Alper ’72, life trustee
  • Steve Ballentine ’83, voting trustee
  • Sharon R. Barner ’79, voting trustee
  • Steven W. Barnes ’82, H’19, vice chair, Board of Trustees
  • Alexia Chatzitheodorou, Ph.D. candidate, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Daniel A. D’Aniello ’68, H’20, life trustee
  • Tula Goenka G’86, professor, Newhouse School of Public Communications
  • Chris E. Johnson, professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Lawrence S. Kramer ’72, vice chair, Board of Trustees
  • Mark J. Lodato, dean, Newhouse School of Public Communications
  • Ryleigh Mellen L’26, J.D. candidate, College of Law
  • German Nolivos ’26, president, Student Government Association
  • Brice Nordquist, associate professor, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Ronald P. O’Hanley ’80, voting trustee
  • Brett Padgett, senior vice president and chief financial officer
  • Beth Patin, associate professor, School of Information Studies
  • Andrea Persin G’25, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Kira Reed, associate professor, Whitman School of Management
  • Shane Sanders, professor, David B. Falk College of Sport
  • Jeff Scruggs, chairman, Board of Trustees
  • Emily Stokes-Rees, professor, College of Visual and Performing Arts
  • Mike Tirico ’88, vice chair, Board of Trustees
  • Pun To (Douglas) Yung, teaching professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science

With the committee now in place, we are moving forward with the important work of engaging key stakeholders to gather and aggregate input from a wide variety of community members. Your voice is essential in this effort.

Additionally, as promised, today, we are launching the Chancellor Search website, where you will find the full schedule of upcoming engagement sessions, both in-person and virtual, as well as other important information about the search process.

We strongly encourage you to register for a session and share your perspective. Your feedback will help inform how we describe the qualities our next chancellor will need to lead Syracuse University into the future.

On behalf of the committee, thank you for your continued engagement and support as we undertake this consequential work together.

Sincerely,

Shelly Fisher ’80, Search Committee Co-Chair
Lisa Fontenelli ’86, Search Committee Co-Chair