Board of Trustees notes significant progress under Schwarz’s leadership
August 2021 – The Drew University Board of Trustees has announced that Interim President Thomas J. Schwarz has agreed to commit to a third year of his presidency.
The Drew community was notified in a message from Board of Trustees Chair William W. Landis III C’85. The full message can be read below.
Dear Drew community,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the final weeks of summer before the start of another busy semester.
I am pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has asked President Schwarz to commit to a third year, and he has agreed.
This is a critical time for higher education and Drew. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our day-to-day lives, and the Delta variant significantly clouds the picture. At the same time, under President Schwarz, we have made significant progress in revamping our admissions, financial operations, human resources, and support programs, and we are setting a course for stability. Our academic programs continue to flourish and grow, with the addition of further combined undergraduate and graduate programs that make Drew even more attractive as a destination. Our entire community has responded to this challenging period with agility, care, and a commitment to Drew’s mission, and I am grateful for that response.
Though we are beginning to turn the corner, the ability to retain Tom’s leadership while we complete these strategic initiatives and hopefully put COVID-19 further in our rear view mirror will allow the University to attract the highest quality leadership to carry us forward. You will all have an opportunity to hear from President Schwarz on that progress early in the fall at his state-of-the-university address, as well as other meetings and gatherings, as health and safety restrictions will allow.
We anticipate a search for a new president will commence in the fall of 2022 for the academic year 2023-24. In recognition of the progress we have made, the Board has decided to remove the “Interim” label from the president’s title. We thank President Schwarz for his commitment to Drew and look forward to continued progress.
Sincerely,
William W. Landis III C’85, Chair
Board of Trustees
