Letter: Presidential Search
May 15, 2025
Dear Brandeis Community Members,
I am writing to announce the beginning of the search and recruitment process for our next university President.
First, on behalf of the Board and the entire Brandeis community, I wish to express my deep gratitude and thanks to Interim President Arthur Levine, who joined Brandeis in November of 2024.
Arthur continues building strong relationships with the Brandeis community while providing strategic and impactful leadership. He is steering the university toward a breakthrough vision that will position Brandeis uniquely as both a top R1 and liberal arts university rooted in its founding values, which in turn, will importantly differentiate us in the higher education sector. His steady hand and strong leadership will continue throughout the search—he is anything but a “lame duck.”
Presidential Search Committee
We have assembled a diverse stakeholder group to serve on the Presidential Search Committee. The Committee will be co-chaired by two members of the Board of Trustees: Cindy Shapira (Chair), and Adam Rifkin ’97 (Vice Chair). They both are dedicated to Brandeis and have deep experience in executive level searches in the higher education and business sectors. Cindy and Adam are committed to a collaborative and inclusive process.
This Committee, comprised of individuals who bring a broad set of experiences and perspectives to this process, is charged with the following:
- Developing formal criteria to guide the search process;
- Engaging the University community to gain insights and important considerations for our next President;
- Conducting a focused and comprehensive national search, with the support and guidance of a premier external search firm;
- Identifying, interviewing, and vetting potential candidates; and
- Putting forth a formal recommendation to the Board of Trustees for consideration and ratification.
The Committee will work closely with a best-in-class search firm, which will be chosen in the coming weeks.
A list of the full Committee can be found here.
Community Engagement
As we have done in prior searches, we will seek input from the many stakeholders in the Brandeis community. More information on this important part of our process and additional ways to provide feedback and input on the search and recruitment process will be provided soon.
We will keep the community informed by creating a dedicated Presidential Search website. This site will serve as a resource for important information and updates. In the coming weeks, we will share more details through the website and via direct communications with you.
On behalf of the entire Board of Trustees, I am as optimistic as ever about our future. We hope the plan we have developed for the search and recruitment process will lead to deeper connections and a continued sense of unity within the Brandeis community. The Search Committee looks forward to updating you again in the coming months as the search progresses.
Best regards,
Lisa R. Kranc ’75
Chair of the Board of Trustees