Dear Adelphi Community,
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Christopher Storm, PhD, as Adelphi’s next provost and executive vice president, with unanimous approval from the Adelphi University Board of Trustees. Dr. Storm’s appointment will be effective July 1, 2021.
Dr. Storm was chosen following an exhaustive internal search process that featured the participation and feedback of more than 400 active members of our academic community, including administration, faculty, staff, students, the board of trustees and alumni. The process included the following:
- A search committee of nine faculty members, two students and nine staff members met with each internal candidate to ensure their qualifications and fit for the role of provost.
- A series of open forums were held so each candidate could present positions to and answer questions from faculty, staff and students.
- Each candidate also participated in 12 intimate meetings with stakeholders, including the Academic Dean’s Council, provost direct reports, provost staff, executive leadership, Senate Executive Committee and chairs, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) executive leadership, President’s Cabinet, Office of Finance and Operations staff, University Advancement staff, associate and assistant deans, adjunct faculty, and the board of trustees.
- Feedback was collected and tallied from all interviews and open forums through our Office of Academic Research, Assessment and Accreditation.
- Our candidates prepared their 100-day and first-year plans, offering an assessment of the most critical priorities to address as provost. These plans were reviewed and evaluated by executive leadership, the Academic Dean’s Council, provost direct reports and our board of trustees.
After this comprehensive process and meaningful feedback from people who were part of the selection process, it was concluded that Dr. Storm was the ideal fit for provost and executive vice president. His experience, including his most recent role as Adelphi’s senior associate provost for faculty advancement and research, conveyed the necessary foundation to approach academic planning, policies and practices with respect for shared governance; a focus on academic quality; support for faculty scholarship and teaching excellence; a priority on diversity, equity and inclusion; and an emphasis on student success.
In addition, Dr. Storm had strong support from stakeholders across the University.
Throughout each step of the search process, Dr. Storm emerged as a visionary, hands-on leader with the ability to enact forward progress at all levels of University operations.
Among community feedback, individuals shared that Dr. Storm is “a thinker, a doer, a team player, a strategist and a problem solver—he is inclusive, collaborative, exceedingly transparent and committed to improving the student experience.”
As one reviewer noted, “Dr. Storm understands the interrelationships between governance, finance and communication, managing and building relationships with people, inclusive student success, and change management in a time when Adelphi’s long-term sustainability will likely depend on the actions that will be taken in the next couple of years.”
As our chief academic officer, Dr. Storm’s understanding of the internal and external dynamics facing higher education will be critical to fostering the long-term success and growth of Adelphi University. In his strategic plan for Adelphi’s operations, Dr. Storm outlined efforts that speak to issues including:
- Affordability and perceptions of the value of higher education
- Meaningful progress in diversity, equity and inclusion exemplifying a transformative, antiracist agenda
- Downward pressure on traditional enrollments because of demographic trends
- Changing learning styles and expectations of future students
- Long-term fiscal sustainability and stewardship
Marc S. Strachan ’81, chair of the board of trustees, shared, “Dr. Storm is an inclusive leader, scholar and champion of liberal arts and professional and interdisciplinary studies, qualities that will serve Adelphi well. In Dr. Storm, we have found an active partner to advance the University by building on our breadth and depth of knowledge and the opportunities ahead. In addition, he cares deeply about the needs of our faculty, staff and students and the communities we serve.”
Thank you to the search committee and the many community members who were instrumental in selecting an outstanding leader for Adelphi University. I hope you all will join me in welcoming Dr. Storm to the position of provost and executive vice president. I look forward to our future accomplishments under his leadership.
All the best,
Christine M. Riordan, PhD
President