A Message From President-Elect Antonio Merlo

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A Message From President-Elect Antonio Merlo

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The following message from President-elect Antonio Merlo was sent to the Drexel Community on Jan. 31:

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,

I am both honored and excited to become the 16th president of Drexel University. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Drexel's Board of Trustees for their trust in selecting me to lead this esteemed institution, and to all those who have extended such a warm welcome to me throughout the search process.

Drexel's dedication to adapting and evolving in response to the changing times, coupled with its innovative approach to experiential education, truly resonates with me. As a first-generation college graduate, I deeply value the transformative opportunities that Drexel offers to its community of talented faculty, driven students, and committed staff. I'm excited about the possibilities ahead and confident that, together, we can elevate Drexel to even greater heights.

Much of my career has been shaped by my experiences at urban universities. Currently, I serve as the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of New York University's Faculty of Arts & Science, but I also spent 14 years at the University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2014, so I am very familiar with Drexel's impressive growth and trajectory. I'm excited to return to University City and look forward to collaborating with all of you to fully realize the University's incredible potential through Drexel's Academic Transformation and so many other strategic initiatives such as the University's Strategic Plan.

The coming years will undoubtedly bring significant changes to higher education, but they also present tremendous opportunities for institutions such as Drexel. To be part of the next chapter in this University's proud history is truly an honor.

Although I officially begin my tenure at Drexel in July, I plan to visit campus often in the coming months and look forward to meeting with students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Sincerely,

Antonio Merlo, PhD

President-elect

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