A Message from President Towers: Leadership Update
The New School has, for many years, been engaged in an ongoing process to adapt our structures to enable interdisciplinary research and scholarship where we have the opportunity and capacity to lead. At times, the work has waxed and waned. With the beginning of my presidency, I have been especially excited to advance it further and provide structure and leadership in this critical space for our future success and distinction.
To help us realize this goal, I am pleased to share that I have appointed Jennifer E. Hobbs, currently the Senior Vice President for Administration, University Secretary, and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, to a newly created role as Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and University Initiatives. Jen will serve as the senior administrative lead of select, prioritized initiatives for the President and the Provost, advising and partnering in their design, planning, socialization, and implementation. This is a multifaceted position that will create administrative structures and systems to elevate the university-wide thematic areas of Climate, Democracy, Cities, and Technology, and will seek to integrate these areas into the university’s academic and operational practices and policies. Reporting to me, Jen will begin in this role on April 14th.
Jen joined The New School in 2020 as Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, and in 2021, she was asked to take on additional duties as the University Secretary, providing leadership for the administration of the Board of Trustees. As Senior Vice President, University Secretary, and Chief of Staff, she has served across three Presidents of The New School and has brought the highest standards of professionalism and integrity to every facet of her work. Jen’s contributions to The New School are extensive and reflect her exceptional administrative and strategic support for the university, including university-wide processes for managing collaborative work across university leaders; ensuring alignment and progress across institutional priorities; stewarding the creation of a second Faculty Trustee position and Alumni Trustee positions to serve on the Board of Trustees; engaging, mentoring, and advising students, faculty, and staff; and leading the administrative operations within the Office of the President and the Board of Trustees.
Jen and I will be working closely together to position this new role for success, and I know you will join me in my optimism for the good work ahead and the leadership that Jen will bring to this endeavor. Later this week, I will announce a new Chief of Staff in the Office of the President. For now, please join me in expressing the deepest appreciation for Jen’s leadership and continued partnership.