The Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Jon C. Strauss as Acting President of the college while President Dr. Joseph E. Nyre takes his half- year sabbatical. The news was announced through a Campus Communiqué email that was sent to members of the Iona community on Jan. 24.

Strauss, former recent president of Manhattanville College, was recommended to the board by Nyre himself, according to the email. Nyre and Strauss had previously worked together while Strauss was still at Manhattanville.

“The board is delighted that Dr. Jon Strauss is willing to come out of retirement yet again to continue to move Iona forward,” the email said.

Strauss served the Manhattanville community for five years until his retirement in 2016.

Strauss’s time at Manhattanville is noted for “increasing financial stability, building institutional capacity and developing new academic programs,” according to a press release from Manhattanville College, released on Dec. 10, 2015. The “Jon and Jean Strauss Campus Preservation Fund” was made for the Manhattanville campus to honor the work Strauss and his wife contributed for the five years they were there.

Strauss holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s degree in Physics from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the Carnegie Institute of Technology.

The email detailed Strauss’s “remarkable record of distinction.” Along with his role at Manhattanville, he was president of both Harvey Mudd College and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, both each for nine years. Strauss also was president of Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

Strauss has also held other positions for many different schools. These include Strauss holding the position of associate professor of computer science in Washington University, senior vice president for the administration at the University of Southern California and interim dean at the Texas Tech University.

“We look forward to welcoming Dr. Strauss as the Acting President,” Denise Hopkins, Vice Provost for Student Life, said in an email. “Dr. Strauss brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from various institutions of higher education to the Iona community. “

Hopkins said that the school is anticipating working with Strauss.

“President Nyre has full confidence that Dr. Strauss will assist the College in continuing to advance our mission and goals and we all look forward to working in partnership with him,” Hopkins said. “I’m also confident that Dr. Strauss will fall in love with our beautiful campus and amazing students!”

Nyre, who has been president of the college since 2011, accepted the sabbatical that was awarded to him by the Board of Trustees this past fall. The sabbatical will allow Nyre to gain “new perspectives, ideas and energy”, according to an email from James P. Hynes ’69, ‘01H, chairman of the Board of Trustees, on Nov. 29. The

Nyre will be present at the 2017 Commencement. Dr. Strauss will begin his term on June 1 until Nyre returns to the college on Jan. 1, 2018.

For more information about Strauss, his resume can be viewed through the email sent by the Board of Trustees.