On Thursday, September 10th, two major announcements regarding the future of Yeshiva University were made. One, that the Einstein- Montefiore partnership was a done deal. The second, more “attention- grabbing” of the two- that YU President Richard Joel would be leaving his position at the culmination of his third term.
On Friday, September 11th, President Joel took time to chat with The Observer’s managing editor, Esti Hirt. Over the course of their thirty-minute discussion, President Joel addressed five key topics regarding his decision to leave YU, the process of finding his successor, and his legacy at the institution.
The History of the Joel Presidency, and the Decision to Leave
The Observer: What sparked your decision to leave the Presidency?
President Joel: Before we go into the details of my departure, let’s discuss the process of how the president is chosen and how I ended up here.
The president of the institution is selected by the board of trustees- they are the “decision makers,” and owners of the corporation. The board develops a process in which to find a suitable match for the institution. In my case, it was a two/ two- and – a -half-year process, with a huge number of people on the search committee. Additionally, there was an executive search committee who were actively searching for candidates, reaching out to a lot of people and interviewing them.
In my case, they stopped the normal search process and reached out to me in October 2002. They had already asked me to be a candidate, but I had declined. I was running Hillel at the time, and while I always loved YU I never thought of myself in this role. This was for multiple reasons; one being that in the history of Yeshiva there had never been a president who was not a rabbi. Additionally, I thought there was huge work to do in the next generation of Yeshiva and that was daunting.
However, after two years of searching, they decided to focus their efforts on me again- even though I was not officially a candidate. They informed me that I was the person they wanted to pursue, and had me meet with all the trustees individually. I also met with interest groups in order for me to determine whether I can do the job, and in order for the university to determine whether I was an appropriate candidate.
On December 6th, 2002- so this was all in a two- month period- I was voted in as the next president (taking the place of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm). I received a tenured faculty position at the same time, as I had been a law professor at Cordoza. I accepted the presidency knowing that it was a five- year term. Even then, I said that I thought the president should only serve for ten- years, meaning two terms.
O: So what made you stay- why did you take a third term?
PJ: Towards the end of the ten- year period (so towards the end of his second term), there was tremendous success in the university, but there were also tremendous struggles. Therefore, the leadership of the board spoke to me about taking five more years. I had a problem with that- I had always thought that this should be a ten year job, that turnover and new leadership is healthy. However, we had just finished restructuring the governance of the university. Additionally, this was the same time that the MTA scandal surrounding the sexual- abuse cases in the 1980’s was being uncovered. I didn’t want it to seem like I was leaving because of those issues- it just was not good timing. So, I agreed to a five- year term, I love YU! But I told Harry Priscell, the chairman of the board at the time, that after the five years that was it. We just chose not to announce it that way.
O: So why announce it now?
PJ: Now we have gone through a time where we have “steadied the ship.” We have a whole new restructuring model so that financially there is a path forward that is a good path. I thought it was important to give a long runway for the trustees to identify the next president, and I still have two- and- a- half years until the end of my term. This gives enough time for the board to think about what kind of presidency they want, and to formulate a process that will enable the trustees to find the new president in a timely way.
The real question was how to time the actual announcement. I thought now was a perfect time, with the successful transaction with Einstein, and all the new exciting things happening in the university. Our plan is moving on strongly, YU is in a very positive position and we are ahead of the curve in knowing who we are and where we are going. We are moving into the future, continuing our success. But we wanted to do this while letting everyone realize that as we move forward, there will be a new president.
Potential Candidates
O: Are there names being floated around as potential candidates? Do you have any names that you are pushing for?
PJ: If Moshe Rabeinu is available…
It’s not appropriate for me to have prospective candidates- it is up to the board to determine who will be my replacement. The chairman indicated that he will want my guidance and some input, but for right now the job is in the hands of the trustees only.
Succession planning is very important in the university world, but this isn’t the case for presidents, because it is a certain skill set. Generally, when looking for a university president, the university will start fresh and search for candidates from all over. It’s not a progression that people rise through the ranks of the university and ultimately become president.
Affect on the University
O: On a functional level, how will the change of leadership affect the university?
PJ: I think that the strong thing about YU now is that there is a very strong infrastructure of leadership. We have strong leadership on a student level, on an academic level. From the business and community perspective, there is direction. My job, and the job of any president, is to lead this structure with great positivity and excitement, and to instill in the community this excitement. The new president will build up the community in the way I had to, standing on Dr. Lamm’s shoulders. I think what is deeply engrained in all YU presidents is that first and foremost we have the responsibility of creating the next generation of valued people who will succeed, and this will not change.
His Legacy
O: Are there any ventures that you have started as president that you are worried will not continue after your tenure? Specifically in light of recent discussions that have taken place in the YU community regarding women’s learning, are you concerned that some of the more progressive initiatives started under your leadership (like GPATS) will loose support?
PJ: I believe that the board is completely marching in lockstep regarding the philosophic ideas of Yeshiva. I’m proud that I’ve led a true “Torah U’Madda Sh’leima” institution, with a deep commitment to Torah and Halacha. What’s great is that within this structure, we welcome different opinions being stated- it’s a university, and people can hold and state different opinions.
Of course taking women’s Jewish roles seriously is a staple, of course their role will grow and it will be Halachically guided. It’s hard to talk about, and there is a very determined nuance. When we look at our lives as Orthodox Jews, everything is in color, not black and white, and this makes things more complicated.
At the orientation for new students and parents, I said that there are no limits to what women can learn and achieve. I get to set those directions and make those statements, and that is the core of what YU is! The board will not choose anyone who does not resonate with that. Of course there is political pressure to het someone who is “more to the right” or “more to the left” or a great business man or speaker. But Moshael Strauss is a firm chairman and will continue to be–they will choose the right person. Every university had struggles how to move forward, and I’m confident YU will conquer that struggle.
The Next (and Final) Two Years
O: Are there any finally initiatives you would like to set in place before you go?
PJ: There is no such thing as final initiatives–this is a continuing opportunity, and we are always looking to advance everything we are working on in the University. The School of General Studies will continue to spread our educational opportunities. Hopefully we will have a masters program in Speech that will accept it’s first class for this September. We are developing a doctoral program in physical therapy, an online masters program in marketing, and all kinds of other certificates and programs. We are figuring out how to appropriately use technology, what kinds of breakthroughs we can have in online learning. We are developing more opportunities for students in Israel, working more within Jewish communities. Our students are becoming stronger advocates in social justice, becoming stronger leaders. We are having more professors of prominence join our staff- right now we have Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Danny Ayalon, Joe Lieberman. Others are coming!
We do need to remind the Jewish people that YU is not like thin air. Most people think and realize they need YU to live, like air. But they think that like air, it is free. Everyone should know that part of their Maaser money (ten percent tithe that Jews are required to give by Halacha) should go to YU. People who have the means to give more should feel a responsibility to give more.
Also, I want to attract more students who belong in YU to come to YU. There is no reason an Orthodox college student should not be coming to this university, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Each student who comes into YU certainly leaves a better person- one with a better education, a network of friends that will last for life, and a greater sense of Judaism and being a part of the Jewish people.