Tuesday, Sep 10, 2024
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
As you know, President Dell’Omo has informed the Board of Trustees that he will be retiring next July at the end of his current contract. While we will deeply miss his leadership, we understand and respect his decision and are profoundly grateful for his dedicated service and many significant contributions to Rider.
President Dell’Omo has been a dynamic leader: maximizing opportunities, championing diversity and steadfastly guiding our University through unimaginable challenges — always keeping student success as our North Star.
Under his leadership, Rider has undergone major campus renovations, expanded its academic portfolio with numerous new programs, and raised millions of dollars to support campus improvements, student scholarships and grow the endowment. He has been a champion of transformational student initiatives, including the Engaged Learning Program, Lifting Barriers and the Cranberry Investment. President Dell’Omo’s accomplishments are far too numerous to list.
As we prepare for the selection of our next president, we are keenly aware of the many challenges and pressures facing higher education today. Universities must navigate a rapidly evolving landscape — marked by shifting demographics, the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, issues with the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, other negative financial trends, as well as attacks on the value of a college degree. In this environment, we must continue to prioritize access and affordability, protect academic freedom and provide an engaged learning environment that will transform lives.
This is a complex time that will require a president who can both honor Rider’s proud history and chart a course for the future.
The Board of Trustees will begin a search for a new president who will lead Rider with vision, integrity and a commitment to the University’s long-term sustainability. I am pleased to announce that the board has appointed trustee Joe McDougall to chair the Presidential Search Committee.
Joe is a 1993 graduate of Rider and has served on the Board of Trustees since 2022. He received his MBA from The Pennsylvania State University. His professional career includes 20 years as a human resources leader for large, multinational enterprises. For the last decade, he has managed businesses and served in a private equity leadership role. The Board is confident that Joe’s expertise coupled with his commitment to and love for Rider make him uniquely suited to lead this important process.
Joe and I will keep the Rider community advised as the search develops. We have no doubt that we can all work together to find a president who will successfully build on President Dell’Omo’s legacy and steer our University toward a sustainable future.
Please join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to President Dell’Omo and his wife Polly for their untiring dedication to Rider. We look forward to celebrating them in the months ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to Rider, and I look forward to engaging with you as we take on this new chapter and embrace the opportunities before us.
Sincerely,
Joan C. Mazzotti
Chair, Board of Trustees