Provost Christine Riordan Elected President of Adelphi University

Colleagues and Students,

We often recognize -- and take pride in -- the outstanding work and talents of members of the University of Kentucky family. So, in an important sense, we should take pride in the fact that other universities constantly recognize and recruit those talents as well. It is in that spirit that I let you know that the Board of Trustees at Adelphi University has unanimously elected Provost Christine Riordan to become that institution's 10th president.

Adelphi University, one of New York State's oldest private, co-educational institutions with an important mission of education, research, and service in the heart of Long Island, has more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students.  As a nationally ranked, doctoral research institution, Adelphi has an ambitious vision to be the region's leading private university.

In Chris Riordan, they have recruited and selected as their next leader someone with widely recognized skills as an educator, scholar, communicator, advocate, and fundraiser.

Although her tenure with us has been relatively brief, Chris' leadership over the past 18 months has been at the heart of a number of initiatives important to the success of the University of Kentucky. In particular, she worked closely with Don Witt and his outstanding enrollment management team in recruiting UK's largest, most academically accomplished and diverse first-year class in our history. In addition, Chris played a pivotal role as we have doubled the number of students participating in our live and learn programs, which are critical to student success. Chris also has been instrumental in recruiting some outstanding new deans to lead our colleges, among many other initiatives.

Chris and I have talked often about her interest in being a president as well as her passion for the important educational mission served by independent institutions like Adelphi and her previous institution, the University of Denver.

Chris and I have agreed that her tenure as Provost at UK will conclude on December 31, 2014. After that, she has agreed to continue to serve the University as Executive Adviser for Special Projects. She will become President at Adelphi on July 1, 2015.

I will be communicating with you soon about our next steps with respect to the Provost position.

I know you will join me in congratulating Chris and her family on this incredible opportunity and congratulating Adelphi University on bringing their presidential search to such a successful conclusion. We wish Chris the best as she embarks on this next exciting chapter in her professional life.

Eli Capilouto

President