Dr. Christine Riordan

President, Adelphi University

Since being named Adelphi University’s tenth president in 2015, Dr. Christine M. Riordan has embarked on a mission of transformation. The mission: change Adelphi from a mainly regional university into a globally-recognized modern metropolitan institution of learning focused on inclusion. As evidence of early success, Riordan cites increased fundraising, greater recognition and execution of new strategies to promote student success, diversity and inclusion. She’s proud that in Fall 2016 Adelphi enrolled the largest first-year class in its history. Adelphi has advanced in its U.S. News & World Report ranking, been cited for excellence by USA Today and Forbes, and has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. Alumni giving is at an all-time high. Riordan has authored over 60 articles for academic and business publications. She has given a TedX talk called Dare to Be Extraordinary and speaks regularly on personal transformation, leadership, change leadership, team-building, diversity and inclusion, work-life management, and leadership for women. Prior to Adelphi, Riordan served two years as a provost at the University of Kentucky where she taught at the Gatton College of Business. Before that she spent five years as dean of the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, where she increased the college’s endowment by over 50 percent to over $110 million. Prior to Daniels she was an associate dean at the Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master’s degree and PhD from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business.