President's Biography
Mordechai Rozanski became Rider University’s sixth president on August 1, 2003. During his first four years at Rider, President Rozanski has undertaken an ambitious program of institutional renewal that is leading the University to the next level of excellence. In 2004-05, he oversaw completion of a comprehensive and highly participatory strategic plan that is providing the framework for Rider’s continuing advancement.
Evidence of Rider’s success can be seen in its enrollment, which has increased 12% since 2003, in its application pool, which has increased 45% and in its retention rates, which have risen more than 5 points to 83% in that same period. Rider has been named by the Princeton Review to be among the top 15% of colleges in the United States and is ranked in the top tier of northern colleges and universities in the U.S. News and World Report annual review. In March 2007, Rider successfully completed its Middle States re-accreditation process. Further, in April 2007, Rider’s College of Business Administration was among only 10% of programs worldwide, and the only one in NJ, to be reaccredited for its business and accounting programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels by the Association for the Advancement of Colleges and Schools of Business International.
As part of the University’s ambitious plans, Rider has invested more than $45 million since 2003 to construct new apartment and suite style residences, to renovate existing residences and academic buildings, and to build a new Student Recreation Center. These are in addition to a number of other academic and student life enhancements that were completed over the past four years on both campuses.
Planning is currently under way for the University’s next comprehensive fund raising campaign which will feature, among other priorities, a new academic complex, a new intercollegiate arena for basketball, volleyball and wrestling as well as an enhanced endowment in support of Rider’s 3,600 undergraduate students’ scholarship needs.
President Rozanski’s 30-year record of higher education leadership includes academic leadership roles at Fairleigh Dickinson University and at Wagner College. In 1993, he was selected to be the president of the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada, where he served until 2003. During his tenure at Guelph, President Rozanski led the University to national prominence as Canada’s top-rated comprehensive university on three occasions. He also presided over two successful capital campaigns that exceeded $100 million and increased Guelph’s endowment by 300 percent.
Dr. Rozanski earned his BA in history at McGill University and his Ph. D. in Chinese History and Chinese-American Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. His research and publications have focused on Chinese-American relations, international education, and higher education.
Dr. Rozanski and his wife Bonnie reside in the President’s residence adjacent to the Rider campus in Lawrenceville, NJ.
President Mordechai Rozanski
Work Phone: (609)896-5001
Moore Library 101
E-mail: mrozanski@rider.edu
President Rozanski's Inaugural Address
April 2nd, 2004
“…Permit me to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the board of trustees and the university community for bestowing upon me the immense honor of becoming Rider University’s sixth president. I accept the position with humility and a profound understanding of the great responsibilities and boundless opportunities it carries.”
