Three days before the start of the fall 2024 semester, while the students were busy unpacking across campuses, Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian stood in front of a crowd of faculty and staff and announced her decision to step down from her position at the end of this academic year.
In an Aug. 23, university-wide email, Olian stated that it “was a difficult and emotional decision.”
“You don’t make a decision like this lightly,” Olian said in an interview with The Chronicle and Q30TV. “You think about it and its implications. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, about when the timing would be good. And you know, it’s never perfect timing.”
Olian — selected unanimously by Quinnipiac’s Search Committee in 2018 — served six years as the university’s ninth and first female president following former President’s John Lahey’s retirement.
“I will not be thinking about the fact that this is my last year,” Olian said.
While she fully intends to step down, Olian noted that to ensure no lull in university leadership, she will stay on until a new president is appointed — even if it takes longer than intended.
“Ten months, 12 months, 14 months,” Olian said. “However is necessary, I’ll stay on into the transition to the new president.”
With her final year still ahead, Olian is committed to “sprinting to the finish line” and upholding the “University of the Future,” — a five-year strategic plan created in 2019 to adapt Quinnipiac into 21st century society.
“I don’t think we’ll be slowing down at all this year,” Olian said. “I certainly won’t be. We’ll be making plans as if we’re continuing forever.”
During Olian’s tenure, wide corporate partnerships, such as with Hartford HealthCare, impacted faculty research and teaching opportunities, student learning and immersions and the range of services Quinnipiac delivers, according to a press release statement from John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations.
Her leadership added 59 new academic programs and dual degrees and 16 certificate programs and saw the construction of a Recreation and Wellness center. The South Quad project saw the opening of a new first-year residence hall, The Grove, in August, with two new academic buildings — new School of Business and The SITE — set to open in May 2025.
Older residence halls, like Irmagarde Tator Hall and Dana English Hall, have undergone recent renovations — including new roofs over the summer — which is a project that will continue, according to Olian.
For five years in a row, Zippia ranked Quinnipiac as the No. 1 university for employment success 10 years out.
“63% of our (incoming) students have said that Quinnipiac is their first-choice institution,” Olian said. “And that has totally changed this energy that you can feel in the hallways.”
There is no doubt that the university gained a lot under Olian’s leadership, but also still faces challenges.
In November 2023, an investigation by Connecticut’s Department of Justice placed Quinnipiac’s physician assistant program under accreditation probation after it failed to meet almost 25% of standards.
After low enrollment during the last few years, the Faculty Senate unanimously voted to sunset the theater major in late January 2024.
The 2023-24 academic year was impacted by a university-wide turnover, from committees responsible for advising the president to other high-ranking officials.
“Judy Olian’s leadership has been transformative,” Chuck Saia, chair of Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees wrote in the Aug. 23 press release statement. “Her vision and dedication have propelled Quinnipiac to new heights, and her impact will be felt for many years. We are confident that we will find a leader who can build on the strong foundation (Olian) has established.”
The Board of Trustees is “committed to ensuring a smooth transition as we prepare for the next phase of leadership,” wrote Saia in an Aug. 26 university-wide email, noting that their goal is to appoint a new president to assume the role in July 2025.
“This timeline will allow us to conduct a thorough and inclusive search, ensuring we find a leader who aligns with our university’s values and vision for the future,” Saia wrote.
Saia wrote that Spencer Stuart, a global executive search firm that also assisted with hiring Olian, will once again help in the search.
Along with them, Saia mentioned the formation of a multi-stakeholder group comprising faculty, staff and students to be announced shortly, which will provide input for the search committee.
Saia also wrote that on Sept. 9, representatives from Spencer Stuart will host community listening sessions on Mount Carmel and North Haven campuses to “actively seek feedback from the Quinnipiac community. We want your point of view on the necessary qualities of the next president and the priorities for our institution.”
“The Board chooses a successor and it’s really up to them to determine what they are looking for,” Olian said. “If they elicit any opinion from me, I’ll gladly give it, but the board is really conducting the search independently with a lot of input from stakeholders. They are looking to hear from you, what you think is needed.”
Olian’s future plans include continued service on nonprofit and corporate boards. She currently chairs the Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, co-chairs AdvanceCT and serves on boards of Ares Management, United Therapeutics and Mattel.
Olian and her husband plan to “maintain a presence in Connecticut” and “remain very engaged” with the university.
“I’m really excited about the future and I know this institution will do really really well,” Olian said. “And I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”
