In March 2026, Roosevelt University announced that President Ali Malekzadeh will retire following the conclusion of his contract in June 2027. The Roosevelt community extends its sincere gratitude to President Malekzadeh for his 12 years of visionary leadership and his deep commitment to the University’s founding mission. His impact will be felt for years to come as we build momentum into the future with the search for Roosevelt’s next president.
Updates on the presidential search will be shared on this page as they become available.
Roosevelt University seeks a values‑driven, student‑centered leader with the vision, judgment, and energy to guide a complex, mission‑focused institution in a rapidly evolving higher‑education environment. The ideal candidate will bring senior‑level leadership experience, strong financial and strategic acumen, and a demonstrated commitment to access, equity, and social justice to lead the University boldly and creatively into the future. Download a PDF of the Leadership Profile.
The Roosevelt community is invited to share any thoughts or feedback on the qualities and qualifications that will be important in candidates for the next president. During April of 2026, a series of listening sessions will be held for students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors. Invitations to specific events will be sent via email.
We invite the Roosevelt community to share your thoughts on the presidential search and nominate potential candidates.
Dear Roosevelt University Community,
I hope you all enjoyed the summer and are having a successful start to the fall semester. Since our last update where I shared the Presidential Leadership Profile, our search partners at WittKieffer have been hard at work sourcing and talking to potential candidates for the next president of Roosevelt. The search has attracted interest from high-quality leaders with diverse careers, skills and life experiences, reflecting the relevance of Roosevelt’s mission and the tremendous opportunity ahead for the University.
The priority application date for the presidential search has now passed, and the Search Committee has officially begun the process of reviewing materials from a strong and broad pool of over 100 candidates. This is an exciting and important milestone in our collective work to identify Roosevelt University’s next president. Following our careful review of the applications, the Search Committee will meet to discuss and select a group of candidates to invite for first-round interviews.
I want to commend the Search Committee for its continued commitment to Roosevelt and its bright future. Their thoughtful engagement and dedication are deeply appreciated and will be essential as we move into this next phase.
As a reminder, for the latest information and updates on the presidential search, you can visit the dedicated Presidential Search webpage.
Thank you, I look forward to sharing an update with you as our work progresses.
In service,
Valerie Barker Waller
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, Roosevelt University Board of Trustees