Dear students, parents, faculty and staff –
As you may have seen in Dr. Riverso's message, today we announced that President Milo Riverso '81, Ph.D., P.E. will be transitioning out of the role of President. This will take place by the end of this calendar year, after which he has agreed to serve as a senior advisor to support a smooth transition for the Interim President we will be naming in the near future.
This decision is the result of a series of conversations that President Riverso and the Board have been having throughout the summer, ultimately driven by health reasons. The Board of Trustees has already begun the search process for an Interim President – someone who can build on the critical steps we have taken as an institution over the last year to improve our financial standing while still prioritizing a transformative student experience. We look forward to keeping you apprised of our progress.
I mentioned our improved financial standing. We have taken decisive action in response to the major changes across the post-pandemic higher education landscape so that we can respond more effectively to shifting student needs and expectations. We have made changes to our structure and offerings – changes that are admittedly never easy – and as a result we are well positioned to deliver on our mission in the years ahead.
The progress we’re making is not going unnoticed – I hope you’re all as proud as I am that just days ago, The Wall Street Journal’s 2025 rankings of the 500 best colleges in America placed us at number 52 overall and number 20 when evaluating a school’s impact on graduates’ salaries related to the cost of their education.
As we all get back into the swing of the academic calendar, I want to assure you on behalf of the Board that Manhattan University, we are prepared and excited for another wonderful year in Riverdale. We have a bright, curious, and caring student body. We have a deeply experienced faculty that is passionate about developing the next generation of young leaders. And we have a dedicated staff – from athletics to facilities to operations and beyond – that comes to work every day energized by delivering a fantastic experience. Of course, this entire University community is bound together by our commitment to bringing Lasallian values to life.
I want to wish you all a safe, fulfilling and fun year at Manhattan University – go Jaspers!
Sincerely,
Steve Squeri ’81, ’86 MBA
Chairman of the Board of Trustees