Administration

President

Dr. Susan Poser is the ninth president of Hofstra University. She assumed the office of the president on August 1, 2021.

Dr. Poser served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), a Carnegie Research One university with 16 colleges, including seven health sciences colleges, and over 33,000 students, from 2016-2021. At UIC, Dr. Poser’s major accomplishments include UIC’s 2019 acquisition of the John Marshall Law School, creating the first and only public law school in Chicago. Another major focus was the creation of several initiatives to support faculty and enhance diversity, including establishing pipeline programs for underrepresented faculty; overseeing a bridge program to hire underrepresented postdoctoral fellows and transition them to faculty positions; creating the Faculty Administrator Leadership Program to mentor faculty; and creating a new Center for Teaching Excellence with a special focus on assisting faculty in creating inclusive classrooms. She also played a key role in creating two new cultural centers on campus – one focused on Arab American students and another focused on students with disabilities. An advocate of interdisciplinary work, Dr. Poser has created regular forums for faculty from across the disciplines to meet and share research in order to generate interdisciplinary research and scholarship.

Dr. Poser’s work supporting data-driven student success using innovative approaches led to increases in student retention and graduation rates. Under her leadership, UIC developed a multifaceted Student Success Initiative, which enhanced first-year and first-gen programming for undergraduates as well as promoting college completion. As the Principal Investigator on a $1 million grant from the Andrew J. Mellon Foundation, she created the Engaged Humanities Initiative at UIC, an undergraduate program where students work with faculty to connect the humanities to their own lived experiences.

Prior to becoming Provost at UIC, Dr. Poser served in several positions at the University of Nebraska. She was the Dean of the College of Law from 2010-2016, the Associate to the Chancellor from 2007-2010, and a law professor for over 15 years. While she was dean, the College of Law moved up 35 points in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and annual giving to the school increased significantly. Among her other accomplishments were the creation of an Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic, an addition to the law school building to house the law clinics, and the formation of two new alumni boards, including the 2044 Alumni Board of Advisors, to make recommendations about diversity in admissions and culture at the law school.

Dr. Poser grew up in New York City and majored in Ancient Greek at Swarthmore College, graduating with honors. She earned a JD and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Before beginning her academic career, Dr. Poser clerked for the Honorable Dolores K. Sloviter, the 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. Dr. Poser’s scholarly work is primarily in the areas of legal ethics and tort law and she has published widely, including in the Michigan Law Review and Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics.

Dr. Poser has a history of institutional service and regional leadership, including an appointment to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s delegation to Israel. A member of the Economic Club of Chicago, her board service, past and present, includes the International Women’s Forum (Chicago chapter), the Nebraska Humanities Foundation, the Strategic Air & Space Museum (Omaha) and the ACLU (national board and Nebraska chapter). In Nebraska, she served as the Reporter for adoption of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and received the Shining Light Award from the Nebraska Bar Foundation for this work. She is a member of several bar associations and has served in leadership positions for the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, the American Bar Association Section on Legal Education, and the Association of American Law Schools.

Dr. Poser is married to Dr. Stephen DiMagno, an organic and medicinal chemist. They have two grown daughters. Dr. Poser is an avid swimmer and plays classical piano.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Charlie Riordan, PhD, serves as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Hofstra University.

Reporting to the president, Dr. Riordan oversees all aspects of the University’s academic enterprise, including its Schools, Colleges, academic programs, Libraries, the Museum of Art, the Saltzman Community Services Center, the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment, and Institutional Research and Strategic Analysis.

Before joining Hofstra, Dr. Riordan held several leadership positions at the University of Delaware (UD), most recently serving as vice president of research, scholarship, and innovation. He was a member of UD’s faculty since 1997 and served as chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and vice provost for graduate and professional education. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Riordan has championed initiatives to recruit, retain, and mentor faculty, including those from underrepresented groups, while fostering a culture of belonging.

An internationally recognized chemist, Dr. Riordan’s research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. He is the recipient of a 1994 National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award (NYI). An elected fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he received the 2013 American Chemical Society Delaware Section Award for his scholarly research. Dr. Riordan was elected to Texas A&M University’s College of Science Academy of Distinguished Former Students. In 2022, he received the University of Delaware’s Medal of Distinction for his contributions to society and the University.

Dr. Riordan earned his bachelor’s degree at the College of Holy Cross, his PhD at Texas A&M University, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago.

Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer

Timothy Doyle is senior vice president for financial affairs and treasurer at Hofstra University. In this role, he oversees all fiscal operations of the University, including the development of the annual budget, financial reporting, accounts receivable and payable, investments, payroll, purchasing, auxiliary services, and risk management. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, he stewards the University’s endowment and reports Hofstra’s financial position to external agencies. He also leads Hofstra’s Division of Facilities and Operations, which provides services to the 244-acre campus community and includes the departments of Campus Operations (Custodial and Grounds), Event Management, Dining Services, Fire and Life Safety, the Print Shop and Mail Center, and Sustainability.

Prior to joining Hofstra, Doyle served as senior vice president for finance and administration at The University of Scranton. He previously held the role of president and chief operating officer of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), a global leader in type 1 diabetes research. There, he led organizational strategy, operations, and revenue growth.

Doyle spent the early part of his career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. After earning an Executive MBA, he transitioned into financial services as vice president of financial operations at Fidelity Investments, where he was a member of the Fidelity Employer Services Company. He led a significant organizational redesign that migrated operations into functional alignment, expanding his leadership span to over 120 employees across transaction processing, financial operations, and audit and control. He earned Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and led enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives to develop scalable infrastructure and strengthen operational efficiency.

He later moved into higher education and scientific research leadership, serving as chief operating officer of Harvard University Press and associate dean for finance at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. There, he oversaw financial operations, facilities management, and information security, and helped lead planning for a $450 million capital campaign and a 550,000-square-foot academic and research facility. As chief operating officer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, he directed administrative operations and served as director of the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization, leading the development of one of the world’s most advanced earth-based telescopes in partnership with global institutions.

In addition to his executive roles, Doyle has served on numerous committees and advisory boards, and he is an active volunteer with Greenhouse Scholars, where he serves as a coach and mentor to recent first-generation college graduates.

Doyle holds an Executive MBA from Suffolk University and a Bachelor of Science from Boston College.

Senior Vice President for Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success

Jessica Eads is senior vice president for student enrollment, engagement, and success at Hofstra University. A proud Hofstra alumna, Eads’ journey began as a student, where her passion for higher education first took root. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hofstra University and a Master of Arts in Counseling and MSEd in Educational Administration from Columbia University Teachers College.

Eads joined Hofstra’s enrollment services team in 1999 as associate dean for MBA/EMBA recruitment. In 2002, she was appointed dean of undergraduate admission operations, and by 2006, she had assumed University-wide responsibility for undergraduate recruitment and enrollment management as vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission and financial aid.

In 2022, under Eads’ leadership, the Division of Enrollment Management merged with the Division of Student Affairs to form the Division of Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success. The newly formed division captures the full student lifecycle, promoting student learning, growth, and success, in and out of the classroom. Eads’ commitment to student success is reflected in her hands-on leadership style. She is consistently available to meet with students, listen to their experiences, and learn how the University can better serve them. She even maintains a group chat with students where they can share their concerns, ask questions, and bring important matters to her attention.

Guided by the belief that every student should feel supported throughout their time at Hofstra, Eads focuses on cultivating meaningful relationships with students and families. Her mission is to ensure that the sense of belonging students feel when they first choose Hofstra continues to grow, empowering them to thrive academically, socially, and personally, and ultimately, to leave their mark on the University community.

Eads stays closely connected to the higher education community by serving on boards and holding memberships with EAB (formerly Education Advisory Board), American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), and the CAA Academic Alliance.

Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

Jason King, JD, is senior vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at Hofstra University. As the University’s chief legal advisor, he is responsible for overseeing all institutional legal matters, advising on all legal issues, and serving as a collaborative strategic advisor.

King joined Hofstra in June 2025 following an impressive tenure at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he was associate vice president of strategic risk management and chief legal officer. There, he advised executive leadership and helped build a culture that promoted compliance and integrity.

Previously, King spent over a decade with the University of Texas System Administration, serving in senior roles, including chief compliance and ethics officer. He was instrumental in designing a robust compliance strategy that helped safeguard a $3.5 billion research portfolio from foreign influence and regulatory risk, coordinating efforts across 14 institutions. His leadership in compliance and ethics was widely recognized across the UT System. Earlier in his legal career, King was assistant general counsel at the Texas Ethics Commission and practiced law with the Austin firm Akers & Boulware-Wells, LLP.

King holds a Juris Doctor from Baylor Law School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He is known for his strategic, forward-looking legal approach and collaborative commitment to transparency, compliance, and institutional excellence in higher education.

Vice President and Director of Athletics

Rick Cole, Jr., an innovative leader with more than 20 years’ experience at college sports programs across the New York metro area, serves as the vice president and director of athletics and was named to his position on March 28, 2018.

Mr. Cole, known as a dynamic, creative manager with wide-ranging experience in athletics administration, brought expertise in external relations, including fundraising and marketing, and is dedicated to the success of student-athletes in their chosen sports and in the classroom with a goal of building champions in the classroom, on the field, and in life.

During his tenure at Hofstra, Mr. Cole has overseen academic and athletic success, as well as record fundraising and facility improvements to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra student-athletes have posted department-record grade point averages with 10 student-athletes earning Academic All-America honors since the Fall 2018. Hofstra has won six Colonial Athletic Association team championships under Mr. Cole’s leadership including the men’s basketball team in 2020.

Hofstra Athletics fundraising has seen strong gains over the last four years with record numbers of Hofstra Athletics Pride Club members and funds raised. Mr. Cole also oversaw upgrades to the Mack Sports Complex that included the installation of state-of-the-art video boards and sound system, as well as renovations to the men and women’s basketball locker rooms.

Prior to his arrival at Hofstra, Mr. Cole served for five years as vice president of athletics administration at Iona College. He previously was the vice president of athletics and athletic director at Dowling College, senior associate athletic director for external affairs at St. John’s University and associate athletic director for external affairs and advancement at Stony Brook University.

Mr. Cole, a member of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and his master’s degree in higher education, both from the University at Buffalo.

Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Terry Coniglio joined Hofstra University as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications in February 2023.

Prior to joining Hofstra University, Coniglio spent over a decade at Georgia State University, where she rose from Social Media Coordinator to Director of Content Strategy, all while earning an MBA. She implemented systems and initiatives that helped Georgia State gain recognition as one of the most innovative universities in the country by the U.S. News & World Report.

Prior to her time at Georgia State, she lived in London, where she worked for Duke Corporate Education, a joint venture between Duke University and The London School of Economics that provides customized executive education for Fortune 500 companies.

Coniglio then taught English in Osaka, Japan, for a year and a half before returning stateside as Cornell University’s Marketing Assistant in the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance, ultimately helping the University establish its social media policies.

In bringing all of her experience to Hofstra, Coniglio hopes to elevate Hofstra’s national reputation while keeping student engagement and success at the forefront.

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion

Cornell Craig, EdD, is vice president for equity and inclusion at Hofstra University, where he provides vision and leadership in the institution’s strategic efforts to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across all facets of campus life. With over two decades of experience in higher education leadership, Dr. Craig brings a student-centered, data-informed, and justice-driven approach to fostering an inclusive academic community. He oversees the University’s key equity initiatives, including inclusive excellence planning with the Hofstra Equity Council, cultural awareness education, campus climate assessments, and community engagement efforts.

Prior to joining Hofstra, Dr. Craig held leadership roles in student affairs, international student services, multicultural affairs, and institutional equity at numerous institutions where he created and fostered innovative programs that support underrepresented students and faculty, developing inclusive leadership pipelines and closing equity gaps. He holds an EdD in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra University, with research interests in organizational equity, student success for marginalized populations, and anti-racist leadership education.

Widely respected as a thought leader and collaborator, Dr. Craig is committed to cultivating an inclusive and vibrant academic community at Hofstra – one that empowers every student, faculty, and staff member to contribute fully to the University’s inclusive educational and research mission.

Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

Denise Cunningham is vice president for human resources and chief human resources officer at Hofstra University, where she brings more than two decades of leadership experience in strategic human capital management. She joined Hofstra in 2017 as chief human resources officer and was appointed vice president in 2022.

Cunningham leads Hofstra’s Human Resources team, which is responsible for providing a full spectrum of human resources services for a diverse workforce of approximately 2,500 faculty and staff. Her portfolio includes organizational development, employee and labor relations, compensation strategy, benefits administration, talent acquisition and development, and human resources information systems. She also serves as Hofstra’s equal rights and opportunity officer and Title IX coordinator for employee matters, ensuring compliance and advocacy.

A passionate educator and mentor, Cunningham is an adjunct associate professor in Hofstra’s Department of Psychology, where she shares her expertise in change leadership, organizational dynamics, and workplace culture with graduate students preparing for careers in human resources and management.

Prior to joining Hofstra, Cunningham held senior HR leadership roles at Columbia University, most recently as executive director of talent services. There, she led strategic HR support for the Columbia University Information Technology Division, focusing on workforce planning, talent management, and organizational effectiveness. Her earlier career spans leadership positions within the publishing industry, where she guided organizations through periods of significant change and growth.

Cunningham holds a Master of Arts in Social-Organizational Psychology with a specialization in change leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Hofstra University.

Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff; Interim Vice President for Alumni Affairs

Jean Peden Christodoulou, EdD, is vice president for administration and chief of staff at Hofstra University, providing leadership and operational oversight in support of the president’s strategic agenda. An advisor and liaison across all areas of the University, she advances institutional priorities, leads University-wide initiatives, provides operational support to the Board of Trustees, and ensures the effective implementation of the Hofstra 100 strategic plan.

Dr. Peden Christodoulou joined Hofstra University’s Division of Student Affairs in 2014 and was most recently senior associate vice president. She had oversight of the Center for University Advising, the Center for Academic Excellence, the Center for Career Design and Development, International Student Affairs, Student Access Services, and Student Affairs Operations. In addition, Dr. Peden Christodoulou led the University’s student-related COVID-19 response.

Prior to joining Hofstra, Dr. Peden Christodoulou held a variety of roles in academic affairs and student affairs at Stony Brook University. She holds an EdD in Educational and Policy Leadership from Hofstra University and a BA and MA from Stony Brook University.

Associate to the President for Government & Community Affairs

Chanda J. Washington is associate to the president for government and community affairs at Hofstra University. In this role, she directs comprehensive engagement strategies to strengthen institutional partnerships, influence public policy, and position the University as a proactive community leader.

She has played a key role in cultivating community engagement, one of the pillars of the Hofstra 100 strategic plan. Under Washington’s guidance, Hofstra became Long Island’s only college campus to serve as an early voting site ahead of the 2024 general election. For her commitment to innovation and public service, she was recognized as a Trailblazer in Higher Education by City & State New York.

Before joining Hofstra, Washington was the communications officer for the Office of the City Administrator for D.C. Government, where she led messaging efforts for public safety, the city’s budget, and gun violence prevention. Previously, as director of communications for D.C.’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, she advised senior leadership, helped shape the city’s economic narrative, and managed multimedia campaigns that elevated major policy initiatives.

Between her roles in D.C. Government, Washington served as public affairs and marketing division chief at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, where she oversaw a $3 million budget, led a 30-person team, and launched an award-winning mental health awareness campaign.

Washington began her career as a journalist, spending over 15 years in editorial and management roles at The Washington Post, where she developed expertise in news reporting, editing, and newsroom leadership.

Chanda Washington holds an Executive MBA from Howard University and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Arkansas State University. She is known for her ability to bridge sectors, build trust, and advance bold institutional goals through thoughtful strategy and authentic engagement.

Chief Information Officer

Jesse Webster is chief information officer at Hofstra University. He provides strategic leadership to guide the development and implementation of innovative technology initiatives that support Hofstra’s mission and goals. He leads the Information Technology Services (ITS) division, comprising digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, information security, IT financial operations, and support teams, and serves as co-chair of the University’s permanent committee on organizational agility.

Over the course of his more than 20-year career in information technology, Webster has held a number of user-focused leadership positions, including at Hofstra, where he was previously responsible for IT client support operations.

In 2015, Webster co-founded Natoma Consulting, where he led client services and operations for the agile-focused business and technology consulting firm. At Natoma, he served organizations in the advertising, energy, financial technology (fintech), and human resources technology (HRIS) spaces, and established strategic partnerships with cloud technology providers such as Atlassian and Contegix and pro-business groups, including the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

Webster returned to Hofstra University as associate CIO in October 2019 and was appointed CIO in January 2023. He holds a BA in Video and Television from The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University.