The University of Dayton has announced that Eric Spina will serve as its next president. Spina leaves behind a 27-year career at Syracuse University—serving as vice chancellor and provost for 9 years. He will be the 19th president in UD’s history and at the announcement ceremony on campus this morning expressed his gratitude at being selected.
"The more I learn during this process, about the University of Dayton and all of you, the more I can say with deep conviction today that this is simply a dream come true, he said.”
In UD's Kennedy Union Ballroom, after thanking faculty members, his wife Karen and their children, his parents and former students, Spina noted how in March of 2014 he watched as the 11th seeded Dayton Flyers beat his "beloved and heavily favored" number 3 seeded Syracuse Orange in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
"Little did I know, or little did you know," he told the applauding audience, "that our paths would cross again eighteen months later here in Dayton Ohio under these very happy circumstances." He concluded by saying that after getting to know the city of Dayton he'd "come home."
Spina follows outgoing President Dr. Daniel Curran, who is stepping down from the position in June of 2016. Curran has served as president for 14 years.
Steve Cobb, chair of the board of Trustees at UD, characterized Curran’s tenure as “extraordinary and unprecedented.”
