Senior Administration

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President

Dr. Susan Poser is the ninth president of Hofstra University. She assumed the office of the president on August 1, 2021.

Dr. Poser served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), a Carnegie Research One university with 16 colleges, including seven health sciences colleges, and over 33,000 students, from 2016-2021. At UIC, Dr. Poser’s major accomplishments include UIC’s 2019 acquisition of the John Marshall Law School, creating the first and only public law school in Chicago. Another major focus was the creation of several initiatives to support faculty and enhance diversity, including establishing pipeline programs for underrepresented faculty; overseeing a bridge program to hire underrepresented postdoctoral fellows and transition them to faculty positions; creating the Faculty Administrator Leadership Program to mentor faculty; and creating a new Center for Teaching Excellence with a special focus on assisting faculty in creating inclusive classrooms. She also played a key role in creating two new cultural centers on campus – one focused on Arab American students and another focused on students with disabilities. An advocate of interdisciplinary work, Dr. Poser has created regular forums for faculty from across the disciplines to meet and share research in order to generate interdisciplinary research and scholarship.

Dr. Poser’s work supporting data-driven student success using innovative approaches led to increases in student retention and graduation rates. Under her leadership, UIC developed a multifaceted Student Success Initiative, which enhanced first-year and first-gen programming for undergraduates as well as promoting college completion. As the Principal Investigator on a $1 million grant from the Andrew J. Mellon Foundation, she created the Engaged Humanities Initiative at UIC, an undergraduate program where students work with faculty to connect the humanities to their own lived experiences.

Prior to becoming Provost at UIC, Dr. Poser served in several positions at the University of Nebraska. She was the Dean of the College of Law from 2010-2016, the Associate to the Chancellor from 2007-2010, and a law professor for over 15 years. While she was dean, the College of Law moved up 35 points in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and annual giving to the school increased significantly. Among her other accomplishments were the creation of an Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic, an addition to the law school building to house the law clinics, and the formation of two new alumni boards, including the 2044 Alumni Board of Advisors, to make recommendations about diversity in admissions and culture at the law school.

Dr. Poser grew up in New York City and majored in Ancient Greek at Swarthmore College, graduating with honors. She earned a JD and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. Before beginning her academic career, Dr. Poser clerked for the Honorable Dolores K. Sloviter, the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia, and served as the Zicklin Fellow in Ethics at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Poser’s scholarly work is primarily in the areas of legal ethics and tort law and she has published widely, including in the Michigan Law Review and Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics.

Dr. Poser has a history of institutional service and regional leadership, including an appointment to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s delegation to Israel. A member of the Economic Club of Chicago, her board service, past and present, includes the International Women’s Forum (Chicago chapter), the Nebraska Humanities Foundation, the Strategic Air & Space Museum (Omaha) and the ACLU (national board and Nebraska chapter). In Nebraska, she served as the Reporter for adoption of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and received the Shining Light Award from the Nebraska Bar Foundation for this work. She is a member of several bar associations and has served in leadership positions for the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, the American Bar Association Section on Legal Education, and the Association of American Law Schools.

Dr. Poser is married to Dr. Stephen DiMagno, an organic and medicinal chemist. They have two grown daughters. Dr. Poser is an avid swimmer and plays classical piano.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

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Charlie Riordan serves as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The provost and senior vice president for academic affairs is second in command to the President at the University.  In this role, Dr. Riordan is responsible for the academic enterprise of the University, our Schools, Colleges, and academic programs, as well as the Libraries, the Hofstra Museum, the Saltzman Community Center, and Institutional Research all fall under his responsibility.

Before joining Hofstra, Dr. Riordan served as the University of Delaware’s Vice President of Research, Scholarship, and Innovation.  He was a member of UD’s faculty since 1997 and served as chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Vice Provost for Graduate and Profession Education.  Throughout his career, Riordan has fostered efforts to recruit, retain and mentor faculty from underrepresented groups, while creating a climate of belonging.

Riordan is an internationally known inorganic chemist whose research has been supported primarily by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. He is the recipient of a 1994 National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award (NYI). An elected fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he received the 2013 American Chemical Society Delaware Section Award for his scholarly research. Riordan was elected into Texas A&M University’s College of Science Academy of Distinguished Former Students. In 2022, he received the University of Delaware’s Medal of Distinction for his contributions to society and the University. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the College of Holy Cross, his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago.

Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer

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Denise Cunningham joined Hofstra University as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) in 2017. She also serves as the Equal Rights and Opportunity Officer and the Title IX Coordinator for Employee Matters. As the CHRO, Denise is responsible for the strategic direction and operational efficiency of the University Human Resources function that provides HR support to approximately 2500 employees. Specific areas of oversight include benefits administration, employee and labor relations, compensation, learning and development and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Denise has an extensive background in Human Resources. Prior to joining Hofstra, she was the Executive Director, Talent Services at Columbia University where she was responsible for providing Human Resources guidance to the Columbia University Information Technology division, specifically in the areas of organizational development, change leadership, workforce planning and talent management. Prior to Columbia, Denise held several HR leadership roles within the publishing industry. She received her Executive Masters in Social Organizational Psychology – Change Leadership from Columbia University Teachers College and her Bachelors of Business Administration from Hofstra University.

Senior Vice President for Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success

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As Senior Vice President for Student Enrollment, Engagement, and Success, Ms. Eads is responsible for the student lifecycle from prospective to enrolled, and their successes beyond graduation.

Ms. Eads has a distinguished and varied career. She began her career in the dean's office at Hofstra's New College, managing the University Without Walls and Off-Campus Education programs. In 1999, Ms. Eads became Associate Dean for MBA/EMBA Recruitment in Enrollment Services, and in 2002, she became Dean of Undergraduate Admission Operations. In 2006, she assumed overall responsibility for undergraduate recruitment and enrollment management when she became Dean of Admission and Financial Aid.

Ms. Eads earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from Hofstra University, a Master of Arts in Counseling and an MSEd in Educational Administration from Columbia University Teachers College.

Vice President and Director of Athletics

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Rick Cole, Jr., an innovative leader with more than 20 years' experience at college sports programs across the New York metro area, serves as the vice president and director of athletics and was named to his position on March 28, 2018.

Mr. Cole, known as a dynamic, creative manager with wide-ranging experience in athletics administration, brought expertise in external relations, including fundraising and marketing, and is dedicated to the success of student-athletes in their chosen sports and in the classroom with a goal of building champions in the classroom, on the field, and in life.

During his tenure at Hofstra, Mr. Cole has overseen academic and athletic success, as well as record fundraising and facility improvements to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Hofstra student-athletes have posted department-record grade point averages with 10 student-athletes earning Academic All-America honors since the Fall 2018. Hofstra has won six Colonial Athletic Association team championships under Mr. Cole’s leadership including the men’s basketball team in 2020.

Hofstra Athletics fundraising has seen strong gains over the last four years with record numbers of Hofstra Athletics Pride Club members and funds raised. Mr. Cole also oversaw upgrades to the Mack Sports Complex that included the installation of state-of-the-art video boards and sound system, as well as renovations to the men and women’s basketball locker rooms.

Prior to his arrival at Hofstra, Mr. Cole served for five years as vice president of athletics administration at Iona College. He previously was the vice president of athletics and athletic director at Dowling College, senior associate athletic director for external affairs at St. John's University and associate athletic director for external affairs and advancement at Stony Brook University.

Mr. Cole, a member of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, earned his bachelor's degree in political science and his master's degree in higher education, both from the University at Buffalo.

Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer

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Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

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Jennifer Mone serves as the University’s Chief Legal Officer, overseeing the Office of General Counsel with responsibility for all of the University’s legal affairs.

Ms. Mone joined Hofstra in 2009 and previously served as Deputy General Counsel.  Before joining Hofstra, Jennifer worked in a corporate legal department and at private law firms.  She graduated from Fordham University School of Law, serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Fordham Urban Law Journal, and earned her B.A. from Tufts University where she graduated cum laude.  She clerked for the Honorable Loretta Preska, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. 

Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff; Interim Vice President for Alumni Affairs

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Dr. Jean Peden Christodoulou currently serves as Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff. Working with internal and external constituencies, she helps develop and execute the President’s strategic agenda and manages operations of the Office of the President.

Dr. Peden Christodoulou joined Hofstra University in 2014 in the Division of Student Affairs and was most recently Senior Associate Vice President. Her portfolio included the Center for University Advising, the Center for Academic Excellence, the Center for Career Design and Development, International Student Affairs, Student Access Services, and Student Affairs Operations. In addition, Dr. Peden Christodoulou has led the University’s COVID-19 response as it relates to students.

Prior to joining Hofstra, Dr. Peden Christodoulou worked in academic affairs and student affairs in a variety of roles at Stony Brook University. She received her B.A and M.A. from Stony Brook University and her Ed.D in Educational and Policy Leadership from Hofstra University.

Associate to the President for Government & Community Affairs

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Chanda Washington joined Hofstra University in February 2023 as the Associate to the President for Government and Community Affairs.

Before joining Hofstra, Ms. Washington served as the Director of Communications in D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Administration, leading teams for the Office of the City Administrator, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.

Prior to her government work, Washington held several editorial roles at The Washington Post, including launching Local Living, a publication devoted to the communities within the Washington Metropolitan Region. Her 16-year career at the Post began on the sports copy desk and included stints with the photo team and news page designers.

Washington earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Arkansas State University in 1995 and an Executive MBA from Howard University in 2023.

Chief Information Officer

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Jesse Webster serves as Hofstra University's Chief Information Officer (CIO).

As CIO, Jesse provides strategic leadership for Hofstra’s technology function, working across the institution to guide the development and implementation of innovative technology initiatives that support the University’s mission and goals. He directs the Information Technology Services (ITS) division, comprising digital infrastructure, enterprise systems, information security, IT financial operations, and support teams, and serves as co-chair of the University's permanent committee on Organizational Agility.

Over the course of his 20+ year career in information technology, Jesse has held a number of user-focused leadership positions, including at Hofstra, where he was previously responsible for technology support operations.

In 2015, Jesse co-founded an agile-focused management consultancy, Natoma Consulting, where he led client services and operations. At Natoma, Jesse served firms in the advertising, energy, financial technology (fintech), human resources technology (HRIS) spaces, and established strategic partnerships with cloud technology providers such as Atlassian, Contegix, and business groups including the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

Jesse returned to Hofstra University as Associate CIO in October 2019 and was appointed CIO January 2023. He is a 2007 graduate of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication.

Interim General Counsel

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Brian Fisher currently serves as Hofstra University’s interim general counsel.

Mr. Fisher joined Hofstra in December 2024. Previously, he was general counsel for a NYSE-listed company and a portfolio company of a prominent private equity firm. Earlier in his career, he was a corporate attorney with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP, and Sidley Austin LLP. He holds a JD from New York University School of Law and an AB in Economics from Harvard University

Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer

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Timothy Doyle serves as Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs and Treasurer. He oversees the development of the annual budget, as well as management and financial reporting of all fiscal operations, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, investments, payroll, purchasing, auxiliary services, and risk management. Working closely with the board of trustees, Mr. Doyle is responsible for monitoring the investment of the University’s endowment, and reporting the financial position of the University to external agencies. In his role, Mr. Doyle also oversees Hofstra’s Division of Facilities and Operations. Facilities and Operations provides year-round services for the 244-acre Hofstra campus and its community. Departments include Campus Operations (Custodial and Grounds), Event Management, Dining Services, Fire and Life Safety, the Print Shop and Mail Center, and Sustainability.

Prior to joining Hofstra in May 2025, Mr. Doyle served at The University of Scranton as Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration. Previously, he was President and Chief Operating Officer for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), a global leader in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Mr. Doyle was responsible for leading organizational strategy and operations to drive innovation, progress, revenue growth, and deliver on its overall mission. Prior to joining Breakthrough T1D, Doyle was Chief Operating Officer for the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for Carnegie’s administrative operations, including finance and investment operations, human resources, information technology, and facilities planning.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Doyle held senior leadership roles at Harvard University, including Associate Dean for Finance and Chief Financial Officer at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and he spent the early part of his career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Doyle holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston College and an executive MBA from Suffolk University.

Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel

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Jason King, JD, is senior vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at Hofstra University. As the University’s chief legal advisor, he is responsible for overseeing all institutional legal matters, advising on all legal issues, and serving as a collaborative strategic advisor.

King joined Hofstra in June 2025 following an impressive tenure at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he was associate vice president of strategic risk management and chief legal officer. There, he advised executive leadership and helped build a culture that promoted compliance and integrity.

Previously, King spent over a decade with the University of Texas System Administration, serving in senior roles, including chief compliance and ethics officer. He was instrumental in designing a robust compliance strategy that helped safeguard a $3.5 billion research portfolio from foreign influence and regulatory risk, coordinating efforts across 14 institutions. His leadership in compliance and ethics was widely recognized across the UT System. Earlier in his legal career, King was assistant general counsel at the Texas Ethics Commission and practiced law with the Austin firm Akers & Boulware-Wells, LLP.

King holds a Juris Doctor from Baylor Law School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He is known for his strategic, forward-looking legal approach and collaborative commitment to transparency, compliance, and institutional excellence in higher education.