TIAA Institute Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education

2024 WINNER KENT SYVERUD, CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Kent Syverud, chancellor and president of Syracuse University, has won the 2024 TIAA Institute Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence in Higher Education. An independent panel of judges selected him in recognition of all he has done for veterans, students with autism spectrum disorders, the Central New York region and beyond.

Now in his tenth year as Chancellor, Kent Syverud has:

  • Overhauled Syracuse’s policies and procedures related to admission, registration, credit transfer, housing, and new student orientation to meet the unique needs of military-connected students and their families.
  • Helped make Syracuse a global leader in inclusive higher education through the campus’s Center for Autism Research and Electrophysiology (CARE) Lab and InclusiveU program for neurodiverse students.
  • Contributed to the economic revitalization of the university’s home city and the Central New York region, including attracting a $100 billion investment from Micron Technology for a massive semiconductor fabrication plant.

Through these and numerous other accomplishments, Chancellor Syverud has solidified Syracuse's position as a world-class university, providing a clear example of leadership excellence to the benefit of countless stakeholders.

The Hesburgh Award is named in honor of the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., past president of the University of Notre Dame and longtime member of the TIAA and CREF Boards of Overseers. A world-renowned educator and humanitarian, Father Hesburgh (1917-2015) was a lifelong champion of human rights, a supporter of interfaith dialogue, the cause of peace, and care for the poor.