RIT’s Next President, William H. Sanders
About Bill Sanders
Distinguished researcher. Cybersecurity pioneer. Global innovator. Accomplished entrepreneur. Servant leader.
Sanders, with 37 years of experience in academia, is currently serving as the Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Message from Bill Sanders
RIT has taken a unique approach on its path to excellence, working at the intersection of technology, the arts, and design. It’s clear that RIT’s acceleration in excellence has been due to charting its own way – being strategic in picking the intellectual areas that it focuses on and creating an identity that does not seek to replicate what others are doing.
RIT has momentum in which we can capitalize on to make it ‘the’ destination for students that value its unique brand of innovation, creativity, passion, curiosity, and joy. This is RIT’s time!
Bill Sanders
The Dr. Willam D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean,
College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
RIT’s Incoming President
Message from RIT Board of Trustees Chair Susan Puglia
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Dr. Sanders is a pioneer and innovator with a distinguished career in academia. He is the right leader at the right time to take the baton from President Munson and continue the acceleration of our university’s amazing trajectory. This is an exciting and fantastic time for RIT.”
“Dr. Sanders demonstrates a deep understanding and appreciation for RIT, its history, and its current upward trajectory. He articulates a compelling vision for RIT that will continue to drive RIT as a distinguished university both nationally and globally.”
Susan Puglia
Chair, RIT Board of Trustees
Chair, Presidential Search Committee
The Search
The search for RIT’s 11th president began last summer, and impressive candidates from across the nation quickly expressed interest in becoming the next leader of the university.
A 25-member search committee composed of students, faculty, staff, alumni, administrators, and trustees narrowed the pool of candidates before the final selection by the Board of Trustees in December. The committee was led by Trustee and Board Chair Susan Puglia, a retired IBM vice president.
“We reviewed the background materials, including their curricula vitae, of many extraordinary and diverse candidates,” said Puglia, who was elected chair in October. “The breadth and depth of interest in the position from extremely qualified candidates was significant. The candidates were remarkable people with impressive backgrounds and a wide array of experience.”
The trustees ultimately elected William H. Sanders, the current Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. With 37 years of experience in higher education, Sanders is an internationally respected researcher, high-tech innovator, successful entrepreneur, and proven collaborator across the globe.
Puglia thanked members of the Presidential Search Committee for their diligent work throughout the process. The search process involved receiving input from multiple on-campus and off-campus constituent groups, including from RIT alumni volunteers across the nation. The national search firm Isaacson, Miller of Boston managed the search and worked with the committee.
RIT President David Munson is retiring in June after leading the university for eight years and capping an illustrious 40-plus-year career in higher education.
“We anticipated that the RIT presidency would be an extremely attractive position in the world of academia,” said Puglia. “We were very pleased with the process and the ultimate selection. Dr. Sanders is a pioneer and innovator with a distinguished career. He is the right leader at the right time to take the baton from Dr. Munson and continue the acceleration of our university’s amazing trajectory. This is an exciting time for RIT.”
Sanders begins July 1.
In the News
- Pittsburgh Business Times
Carnegie Mellon University's engineering dean William Sanders named as RIT's next president - RIT News
William H. Sanders named RIT’s 11th president - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CMU engineering dean named RIT's next president - Rochester Beacon
RIT names 11th president - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
RIT names new president: Who the nationwide search selected - WXXI News
Incoming RIT president announced; looks at advancing its mission while navigating some challenges - RochesterFirst.com
New RIT president promises to build on school’s brand - News10NBC
RIT welcomes new president from Carnegie Mellon University - 13WHAM
William Sanders named RIT's 11th president - Spectrum News
RIT names William H. Sanders new president - Rochester Business Journal (subscription required)
RIT names William H. Sanders as 11th college president - WXXI News
Where is AI going at the Rochester Institute of Technology? The incoming president has a plan. (video) - Yahoo
RIT News: William H. Sanders named RIT's 11th president, published in Yahoo - Austin Daily Herald
RIT News: William H. Sanders named RIT's 11th president, published in Austin Daily Herald - Washington Daily News
RIT News: William H. Sanders named RIT's 11th president, published in Washington Daily News