Our first meeting will be on Thursday, September 18, at 2:00 p.m. in the Lillian Gade Room and on Zoom. The topic is tentatively titled “American Higher Education at a Turning Point”. Our guest presenter is Jeffrey Gray, who retired from Fordham University as SVP for Student Affairs.
Pre-read suggestions:
- “The State of Higher Education” – a report by Jeff Selingo published April, 2025 – pdf
- “Higher Ed Has a Bigger Problem Than Trump,” an opinion piece by E. Thomas Finan, a Boston University professor, published in The Atlantic on 9/1/25 – https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/09/trump-higher-education-trust/684068/?gift=bS7Zc5hkcIYwptsCqJS7sYuNAlGYjp7lYihZvAruTRs&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
- “6 Higher Education Trends to Watch for in the 2025-2026 Academic Year” from “Higher Ed Dive” August 28,2025 – 6 higher education trends to watch for in the 2025-26 academic year | Higher Ed Dive
- “Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics public opinion survey” July, 2025 – https://www.elon.edu/u/elon-poll/homepage/knight-commission-on-intercollegiate-athletics-public-opinion-survey/
Our guest presenter, Jeffrey L. Gray:
Jeffrey L. Gray served as the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at Fordham University, until his 2023 retirement. He began his tenure at Fordham as the Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Life in September 1989, and was named Dean of Student Life in August 1990. He was appointed the University’s senior student affairs officer in 1996.
Jeff’s career spanned 42 years in secondary and higher education, 27 of which were served in his final role as the Senior Vice President. In that role, he provided oversight and leadership for all student affairs functions across Fordham’s multiple campuses, and his responsibilities included the leadership and supervision of approximately 15 departments, 25 senior level professional staff members, 250 professional and support staff, 350 contract employees and over 200 student employees. He oversaw and managed operating budgets of approximately $70M+, and revenue budgets of $95M+.
His management portfolio included the Offices of the Deans of Students, the Dean of Student Services, Residential Life, the University Judicial Process, Hospitality and Dining Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Career Services, the Offices of Student Leadership and Community Development, Intercampus Transportation, the McGinley Student Center, New Student Orientation, Disability Services, the Alcohol and Drug Education Programs, Campus Ministry and Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.
In 34 years at Fordham, 27 of which were served in an executive leadership capacity as a member of the President’s cabinet and senior leadership team, Jeff had the opportunity to gain skills and experiences in various critical areas, including but not limited to:
- crisis management
- problem solving
- student mental health issues
- campus health, safety and welfare matters
- COVID response
- Athletics oversight
- communications and media relations
- student conduct and Title IX matters
- ADA matters
- diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
- free speech and academic freedom issues
- management of controversial student clubs
- strategic planning
- institutional and operational assessment initiatives
- human resource management; staff recruitment, retention, training, development and supervision
- finance and budgeting
- housing occupancy and revenue management
- fundraising
Jeff has served on non-profit boards, chairing three of them. He has conducted on campus program reviews, served as a NASPA program reviewer for the national conference, and has served as a peer evaluator on multiple Middle States accreditation visiting teams.
Jeff received a bachelor of arts in psychology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, a master of science in counseling and guidance from Syracuse University and a master of science in administration from Western Connecticut State University. Before coming to Fordham, he served as the director of counseling and guidance for the McGraw Central School System from September 1981 to August 1984, Assistant to the Director of Housing at Western Connecticut State University from September 1984 to December 1987 and the Assistant Director of Residential Life at Montclair State College in New Jersey from 1987 until September 1989.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/pub/jeffrey-l-gray/7/822/797/
Organizers are Barry Silver, Doug Bernacchi, and Charles Salmans.