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 Members of the Roosevelt University Community,
I am pleased to share that, after weeks of reviewing application materials and hours of thoughtful discussion, the Presidential Search Committee has identified a group of first-round interview candidates from a final pool of almost 160 applicants. This marks another important step forward in our search for Roosevelt University’s next president, and I applaud the Search Committee for their focus on and commitment to Roosevelt's future.
Each step of this presidential search process has been carefully designed, in collaboration with our search partners at WittKieffer, to surface the greatest amount of relevant information about each candidate so that the Search Committee can consider and evaluate them against the qualifications and qualities we want in Roosevelt’s next president. The candidates selected for first-round interviews are impressive, and their materials revealed significant and meaningful alignment with the aspirations outlined in the leadership profile.
The first-round interviews will afford both the Search Committee and the candidates the opportunity to get to know one another better and explore the potential for continued conversation. Following those interviews, the Search Committee will determine which candidates will move forward to second-round interviews.
I am grateful for the diligence, judgment and collaborative spirit the Search Committee continues to bring to this work, and I am excited for the conversations and next steps ahead.
I look forward to sharing another update with you later this fall.
In service,
Valerie Barker Waller
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
Vice Chair, Roosevelt University Board of Trustees