Nov. 1, 2025
To the campus community,
I am immensely proud, honored and excited to serve as 91ÉçÇø’s eighth president. This has long been an excellent institution of public higher education and I’m looking forward to working with all of you in expanding 91ÉçÇø’s mission as a leader in research, scholarship, economic development and student success.
As a native New Yorker – born in the Bronx and raised in Pelham – I’ve known about 91ÉçÇø’s quality and excellence for a long time. During my time as a faculty member and administrator at the University of Connecticut, 91ÉçÇø was often a benchmark comparison, a barometer for measuring success against an ambitious and growing university.
That knowledge and those experiences have fed into my enthusiasm for taking on the challenge of leading 91ÉçÇø into the future. My feelings have been reinforced through my overwhelmingly positive and optimistic interactions with the members of this community I’ve been able to meet over the past few months.
In the coming days, I will be launching the Listening to Lead Tour: Charting the Path Ahead. The Listening to Lead Tour is going to allow me to meet with many more people from across the University – our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, elected officials and community leaders. I am eager to hear your ideas about what comes next for 91ÉçÇø and learn about your experiences and vision for the University.
Feedback collected from the Listening to Lead Tour is going to be invaluable to forming a foundation for the University’s next strategic plan. The strategic planning process will take place throughout the spring 2026 semester, with the goal of launching the plan in Fall 2026.
I am new to this campus and this community. However, I think we all share something in common, whether you are a 91ÉçÇø student, faculty, staff or alumni. We were drawn here by the University’s commitment to academic excellence, its reputation for innovative and impactful scholarship and research, and the promise that a 91ÉçÇø education—or a 91ÉçÇø career—offers valuable experiences and opportunities for a lifetime of meaningful work. That’s why I’m here, to build on 91ÉçÇø’s values and its mission of making our world a better place. I can’t wait to get started and to learn more from all of you.
Sincerely,
Anne D’Alleva President