Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
February 25, 2003
Rozanski to be president of U.S. university
Mordechai Rozanski, the University of Guelph’s longest serving president, was today appointed president of Rider University, a 138-year-old independent university in New Jersey.
Rozanski, who has been a professor and administrator in Canada and the United States for 35 years, begins his new position as Rider University’s sixth president Aug. 1, 2003. Located one hour from Manhattan, Rider has 5,504 students, 335 faculty and 1,054 staff on two campuses, in Lawrenceville and Princeton, New Jersey. The university consists of four academic units: business administration; education, sciences and arts; continuing studies; and Westminster Choir College (in Princeton). It offers undergraduate programs in 60 areas and graduate programs in 17 specialties and is ranked in the top 10 per cent of universities, academically, in the United States.
Paul Lang, chair of the Rider University Board of Trustees, said Rozanski was selected because “he is a dynamic leader with a participatory style who brings a record of success and leadership that will be important in Rider’s strategic planning.” Lang added that he and the Rider community were impressed that Rozanski has led Guelph to national prominence – citing the 2002 and 1999 top Maclean’s rankings – and was instrumental in helping Guelph reach new levels of academic distinction and fundraising success, including the $100-million growth of the endowment.
Rozanski, who was appointed Guelph’s president in 1993, said: “This is a bittersweet day for me. I feel immensely privileged to have served our wonderful university and its talented people for close to a decade. I am proud to have worked with such terrific administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and board members and have tremendous confidence in Guelph’s future under Alastair Summerlee’s superb leadership. While Bonnie and I have greatly enjoyed living in Guelph and will miss our many friends and retain fond memories, we look forward to returning to New Jersey and going from one outstanding university to another.”
Rozanski lived in Ridgewood, New Jersey, while serving as provost and vice-president at Fairleigh Dickinson University from 1986 to 1991 and as provost at Wagner College until 1993. A graduate of McGill University with a BA in history, Rozanski received his PhD in modern Chinese history in 1974 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he began his teaching career as a lecturer in American-East Asian relations. He studied Chinese at New Asia College in Hong Kong and was a Lily Fellow at Stanford and an American-East Asian Relations Fellow at Columbia University.
Michael Walsh, chair of Guelph’s Board of Governors, said Rider University is “gaining an exemplary leader and passionate advocate for education. Dr. Rozanski’s presidency has been marked by challenge, innovation and substantial growth in Guelph’s academic stature, enrolment, financial resources and reputation. He will be greatly missed, but we wish him well in this new endeavour.”
Rozanski will remain in office at Guelph until July 2003. He plans to focus actively on Guelph’s priority areas, including advocating for increased public investment in universities, planning for student enrolment growth through the renewal of faculty and staff and facilities, and completing the capital campaign.
Rozanski will be succeeded by Summerlee, who was named Guelph’s seventh president and vice-chancellor in January.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982.
