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Dr. Susan Poser
President
Dr. Susan Poser is the ninth president of Hofstra University. She assumed office on August 1, 2021.
Since her appointment, Dr. Poser has focused on strengthening academic programs, improving student recruitment and outreach, and attracting top talent to drive innovation. She has deepened Hofstra’s ties with local communities, collaborated with alumni nationwide, and guided a campus-wide initiative to gather input on the University’s identity and future direction. This effort resulted in the creation of Hofstra’s strategic plan, Hofstra 100, which was unveiled in fall 2024 and charts the University’s course toward its centennial in 2035. In May 2025, Hofstra introduced a new brand identity and logo, reflecting Hofstra’s next chapter.
During Dr. Poser’s tenure, Hofstra University has achieved record-high student retention, increased alumni fundraising, and invested significantly in innovative academic programs. In 2024, the University received a $35 million gift to support undergraduate scholarships in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, the largest gift for undergraduate education and the second largest in Hofstra’s history. In January 2025, the University was elevated to an R2 designation for high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for its commitment to graduate education and research excellence.
In alignment with the University’s commitment to opportunity and access, Hofstra launched the Hofstra-Uniondale Pathway Program (HUPP), which offers Uniondale High School students a chance to earn college credit. Four students from the first cohort received full scholarships to attend Hofstra.
Dr. Poser plays an active role in regional development. She serves on the boards of the Long Island Association, Accelerate Long Island, and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. She is also a member of The Women’s Forum of New York and The Chicago Network.
Prior to joining Hofstra, Dr. Poser served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). There, she led the UIC’s acquisition of John Marshall Law School, the first public law school in Chicago, and developed initiatives to support faculty success and expand diversity. She previously held leadership roles at the University of Nebraska, including dean of the College of Law, where she led a campaign to raise $23 million. During her tenure as dean, the College of Law improved its U.S. News & World Report ranking by 35 places. Prior to becoming dean, Dr. Poser served as associate to the chancellor at the University of Nebraska and was a professor of law for over 15 years.
Dr. Poser grew up in New York City. She graduated with honors in ancient Greek from Swarthmore College and earned a JD from UC Berkeley School of Law and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. She clerked for the Honorable Dolores K. Sloviter, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, and served as the Zicklin Fellow in Ethics at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Her board service, past and present, includes the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, the International Women’s Forum (Chicago chapter), the Nebraska Humanities Foundation, the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Space Museum (Omaha), and the American Civil Liberties Union (national board and Nebraska chapter).
Updated August 2025