Brandeis President Lawrence, Out....................from Dan Friedman

Just in from Daniel Mael, the stand up senior at Brandeis who set the wheels in motion. Just conjecture, but maybe some wealthy donors decided Lawrence pushed Brandeis too far to the loony Left.

Dan Friedman
NYC



Dear Friend,

After careful consideration, and in close consultation with the Board of Trustees, I have decided to step down as President at the end of this, my fifth academic year. For the time being, I am looking forward to returning to full-time scholarship and teaching as a senior research scholar at Yale Law School.

I am tremendously proud of the ways Brandeis has grown and thrived during my time as president. Applications have surged to an all-time high, our endowment has grown to its highest point ever, and we have made significant progress in balancing the University’s budget. Together we were able to raise $225 million during my tenure, providing critical support for financial aid and scholarships. We re-opened and re-energized the Rose Art Museum, rebuilding its board, mounting critically acclaimed exhibitions and changing our campus landscape with the "Light of Reason" sculpture.

Addressing the critical issue of affordability of higher education, and conscious of our social justice mission, I was privileged to secure the viability of our Transitional Year Program with the naming gift in memory of Myra Kraft, and to increase scholarships and fellowships. We have also been able to recruit our top choice faculty, attracting to our ranks people of extraordinary ability as teachers and scholars. We improved our campus, and revitalized our buildings and grounds.

As a community, we stood together during times of celebration, tragedy, triumphs, and challenges — but always striving for a climate of respect for each other, and our hopes to make the world a better, more just place. I am particularly proud of programs like 'Deis Impact, b-VIEW (Brandeis Visions of Israel in an Evolving World), and Brandeis Bridges that have been a source of dialogue on our campus, and models for discourse on campuses around the world.

I want to thank the Brandeis Board of Trustees for the opportunity to lead this strong, vital and dynamic institution and serve alongside so many extraordinary students, faculty, alumni, staff, parents and friends of the University. Every day our community exemplifies Brandeis’ legacy of social justice and repairing the world. Teaching the students who make Brandeis what it is has been a treasured opportunity. Living near campus allowed us to spend meaningful time with so many members of the Brandeis family. We will never forget those dinners and receptions in our home.

I am very glad that the Board has appointed Lisa Lynch, provost and the former Dean for the Heller School, as interim president while a search is conducted, and I have great confidence in her ability to continue the strong trajectory that we have set for Brandeis.

This is a special place, and one that has left an indelible mark on Kathy and me. We look forward to thanking many of you personally in the coming months for your support and to celebrating the achievements and successes of our time at Brandeis. My door remains open to you, and always will be.

With gratitude,


Fred Lawrence
President and Professor of Politics