In an email today, President Stephen J. Friedman has announced he won’t seek reappointment as President after his current term, which ends on June 30, 2017.

Here is the full text of the announcement:

January 27, 2016

To: The Pace University Community

Dear Friends,

I have decided not to request reappointment as President after the conclusion of my current term on June 30, 2017. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve this university that I have come to love so much over the past 12 years and for the valuable contributions that so many of you have provided during my presidency. As a community, we have faced and overcome some significant challenges, both internal and in the external environment. We have taken prudent but bold risks. We have come a long way together in renewing and strengthening virtually every aspect of the academic, physical, and student life of Pace University, as well as its management and administration, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.

I have been fortunate to work with so many talented, dedicated and wonderful people in the administration, the faculty, the student body, the staff, and the alumni community. You all contributed so much to what has occurred at Pace during these years and you have my deep admiration and respect.

As much as has been accomplished, more remains to be done. We now have a strong base in curriculum, strategic initiatives, faculty, and administration that will be a springboard to what I firmly believe will be a truly great future for Pace University. My intention is to leave to you and to my successor a firm foundation on which to build the next layers of growth and success for this wonderful university.

You will be hearing about the Presidential search process in the coming weeks from the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

My time at Pace as Dean of the Law School and President has been the most challenging and rewarding period of a long and varied professional life. As I reflect on the reasons for that conclusion, they come down, as do all important decisions here, to our students and our mission – to the truly magical transformation in the still unformed young men and women who enter our doors to begin a process which is embodied in the theme of Opportunitas. It has been a privilege to be part of their lives and the life of Pace University.

Sincerely yours,

Stephen J. Friedman