Alexis Friedman\The Hofstra Chronicle
On Friday, Oct. 1, Hofstra University will officially inaugurate its ninth president, Dr. Susan Poser. Succeeding former President Stuart Rabinowitz, she is the first female president in the University’s 86-year history. A law professor by trade, Poser previously served as the Dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law and as the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
Dr. Poser noted that she was drawn to the legal field at an early age. “As a child, I always thought I would be a lawyer,” Poser said. “My father was a lawyer and it just seemed like an interesting career. And I was very good at arguing; I could argue my mother into a corner.”
When she attended her undergraduate studies at Swarthmore College, Poser majored in classics and minored in political science, where she read political theory from many different eras. “In college,” Poser said, “I was very influenced in political theory by John Rawls and his theory of justice and how to build a society that can keep everybody at a basic level of subsistence while creating incentives for people.”
After graduating, she spent a year in Greece, where she taught English. During this time, she came across an application for an interdisciplinary program at the University of California, Berkeley, where she eventually earned a Ph.D. and a J.D. simultaneously. Throughout her time as a lawyer, professor and university administrator, Poser has kept the people who influenced her the most close to heart.
“As far as people [who influenced me] go,” Poser said, “I would say my father and the chancellor at Nebraska, who I worked for a few years and knew for a long time. He’s actually going to be at the inauguration and will be seeing me. I had piano teachers that I have been very close to; my husband is phenomenal. And, I also really loved the faculty at UIC. I was very influenced just listening to their talks, and they were just an exceptional group of really smart people.”
The various positive influences in Poser’s life have certainly left a mark on her, as she has in turn impacted the institutions she has spent time at. While at UIC, she oversaw initiatives supporting interdisciplinary faculty research which incorporated fields including robotics, transportation, justice and philosophy. As the dean of the University of Nebraska’s law school, she made international law a required class for first year students to ensure all law students have a proper understanding of the world early on. This, among many other reforms at both institutions, are some of Poser’s proudest accomplishments.
Although Poser has only been on Hofstra’s campus for a few months, she has already noticed some of the strengths of the student body and staff, beyond what might be found in an admissions pamphlet.
“I’ve had a wonderful time meeting the students here in various venues,” Poser said. “They’ve been incredibly welcoming, and it just seems like there’s a great sense of community here. I have been gifted with a wonderful group of vice presidents as well. I see the work they have done with all the people in their units to make this a safe campus because of COVID-19. We’ve gotten to something near a 99.8% vaccination rate for students and employees, which is out of sight for a university right now. It has just been fantastic to see the team effort here and the dedication to the University.”
Over the next few years, Poser holds goals for how the University can improve while capitalizing on its strengths. As a Greek classics major during her undergraduate studies, she hopes more current and prospective students will take full advantage of the liberal arts education offered at Hofstra and apply it to their lives beyond college.
“I just see a whole lot of things that we can do both to continue to attract the best students and then graduate them into really successful careers,” Poser said. “But it’s not just by focusing on the students. We also have to focus on the faculty, and on retention and graduation rates. I just want to support [the faculty and students] so they can reach their full potential.”
Inspired by the potential this University holds, Poser believes every student has a common purpose that can be fulfilled by stepping out of their comfort zone.
“Don’t just go to class, get engaged with other students,” Poser said. “I think students here are very good at that already. I would say that much of success in life is showing up with energy and being willing to do things that you might have zero interest in.”
The past year and a half have been a daunting time for Hofstra due to COVID-19, but Poser seems poised to step up to the plate. With a steady sense of direction for the University, she looks to keep campus safe and fulfilling for all.
