Dr. Susan Poser became Hofstra University’s ninth president on August 1, 2021. Since then, she has worked to enhance academic programs, expand student outreach, and foster innovation by attracting top talent. She has strengthened ties with local communities, led a campus-wide identity initiative, and engaged alumni nationwide in shaping Hofstra’s future.
Under her leadership, Hofstra launched Hofstra 100, a strategic plan and vision toward the University’s centennial in 2035, and introduced a new brand identity in 2025. The University has achieved record-high student retention, increased alumni fundraising, and made major investments in academic innovation. Hofstra was elevated to an R2 research designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and received a historic $35 million gift for scholarships in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business.
Dr. Poser and Hofstra formed the Hofstra-Uniondale Pathway Program (HUPP), creating college credit opportunities for Uniondale High School students, with four students in the first cohort receiving full scholarships to Hofstra. She is active in regional economic and civic leadership, serving on the boards of the Long Island Association, Accelerate Long Island, and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council.
Before Hofstra, she was provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago and previously held leadership roles at the University of Nebraska, including dean of the College of Law. Prior to becoming dean, Dr. Poser served as associate to the chancellor at the University of Nebraska and was a professor of law for over 15 years.
Dr. Poser grew up in New York City. She earned a JD from UC Berkeley School of Law and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
