The University of Dayton is formally introducing Eric Spina as its next president. Spina will be the Catholic university's 19th leader, but just the the second lay leader in UD's 165-year existence.
UD's board of trustees voted unanimously to approve Spina's appointment. He comes from Syracuse University where he spent the past 27 years, including nine as vice chancellor and provost. He also served briefly as interim chancellor and president in 2013.
Spina will take over for President Daniel Curran who is stepping down at the end of June 2016.
In a statement, chairman of the University's board of trustees, Steve Cobb, says "Spina is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, with a career marked by excellence in academic leadership, teaching, research and community engagement with a warm, engaging personal style."
Spina says the university's Marianist teachings and priorities, especially related to social justice and community engagement, are in line with his own. "In a way, I feel that I am coming home."
He has doctorate and master's degrees from Princeton University in mechanical and aerospace engineering. UD adds:
A prolific researcher and author with a 20-year research focus on experimental high-speed fluid mechanics, he has worked on multi-million dollar grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Environmental Protection Agency. He holds two U.S. patents and authored, co-authored or edited dozens of academic publications.
