May 11, 2023: Spring Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

Dear Colleagues,

I write to share with you a summary of our annual spring Board of Trustees meeting, which took place on campus from Wednesday, April 26, through Friday, April 28. My thanks to our faculty colleagues who participated in the various committee meetings, including Professor Margot Vigeant, acting faculty chair; Professor Alan Cheville, faculty secretary; and Professors Thomas Cassidy, Matthew Heintzelman, Erin Jablonski, Tom Kinnaman, Dustyn Martincich, David Mitchell, JT Ptacek, Linda Smolka, Ryan Snyder, Brandon Vogel and Lucas Waddell.

A group of trustees attended a reception at the Bucknell Farm, where they had the opportunity to engage with students, faculty and staff and see farm programming at the beginning of the growing season. I thank Professor Clare Sammells, interim faculty director of the farm; and Jen Schneidman Partica, farm & garden manager, for hosting this event.


Members of the Investments Committee and other trustees attended a presentation by members of the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) class, followed by a reception with students in SMIF; the Environmental, Social & Governance Investing class; the Bison Finance Society; and the Women in Finance club. My thanks to Professors Curtis Nicholls, Frank Schreiner and Karen McGrath for organizing the student groups.

In the Academic Affairs Committee meeting, the trustees learned about the shared governance report that has been endorsed by faculty, along with a report on efforts to strengthen student retention and an update on the work of Thrive@Bucknell.

The Finance and Advancement Committees received an update on the comprehensive campaign, which has raised about $160 million in its quiet phase. Param Bedi, interim vice president for finance & administration and vice president of Library & Information Technology, presented a review of FY23 projections, which resulted in an expected surplus of about $5.8 million, primarily due to $3.5 million in FEMA-PEMA proceeds for FY22 COVID testing expenses. The FY24 operating budget presented to the Board included the 4.9% increase in the comprehensive fee that was approved during the winter meeting and a 5.25% compensation pool increase. The committee voted to approve the FY24 budget.


Strategy Committee members discussed the University mission statement and the importance of ensuring that it clearly and succinctly supports our strategic initiatives. Review of our mission is a central element in our Middle States Accreditation process; this topic will be further discussed at the October 2023 Board meeting.

In executive sessions, the trustees heard an update on progress toward determining the most strategic use of the lower campus, which extends from the area below Dent Drive to the Cemetery House on Seventh Street, and from the Miller Run waterway/Art Building area to Route 15. The Board supported the University's continued focus on improving the student experience and keeping sustainability front-of-mind as this work moves forward. The Lower Campus Planning Steering Committee will update the campus community this summer, and will report on its progress at the October 2023 Board meeting.

In a presentation on enrollment and financial aid strategy, Vice President for Enrollment Management Lisa Keegan provided an update on admissions for the Class of 2027, which early indicators suggest will exceed most targets, as well as a strategic overview of the potential impact of an additional $500 million for financial aid in building future classes, which would help keep Bucknell competitive with peer institutions.

Professor Margot Vigeant, acting faculty chair, shared with the Board the recommendations and next steps outlined in the recent report from the faculty's Shared Governance Review Working Committee. She also engaged the Board in an interactive presentation of active teaching techniques.

I am pleased to report that three new trustees were elected to the Board for five-year terms effective July 1. They are Daisy Auger-Dominguez '95, Kecia Thomas '88 and Scott Uebele '00. A citation was read in honor of departing trustee Jane Taylor Elfers '83, P'19, who is completing her 15 years of Board service effective June 30. I am grateful for her wise leadership and steadfast dedication to her alma mater.

At the annual spring faculty recognition event on April 27, the trustees joined me in honoring 20 faculty colleagues who either received tenure or achieved the rank of full professor effective with the start of the fall semester of academic year 2023-24. We congratulate the following individuals for earning tenure:

  • Paul Barba, assistant professor of history
  • Courtney Burns, assistant professor of political science
  • Erica Delsandro, assistant professor of women's & gender studies
  • Vahid Gholampour, assistant professor of economics
  • Christina Hamlet, assistant professor of mathematics
  • Eddy López, assistant professor of studio art
  • Ryan Malone, assistant professor of music
  • Kenneth Mineart, assistant professor of chemical engineering
  • Joshua Stough, assistant professor of computer science
  • Benjamin Wheatley, assistant professor of mechanical engineering
  • Jaye Austin Williams, assistant professor of critical Black studies

And we congratulate the following colleagues for promotion to full professor:

  • Erdogan Bakir, associate professor of economics
  • Fernando Blanco, associate professor of Spanish
  • Kevin Daly, associate professor of classics & ancient Mediterranean studies
  • Renée Gosson, associate professor of French
  • Jason Leddington, associate professor of philosophy
  • Sarah MacKenzie-Dawson, associate professor of education
  • Dustyn Martincich, associate professor of theatre & dance
  • Kat Wakabayashi, associate professor of chemical engineering
  • Amanda Wooden, associate professor of environmental studies & sciences

With Commencement rapidly approaching on May 14, another successful academic year is coming to a close. During this period, we emerged from the most difficult years of COVID-19 and were able to more fully focus on envisioning and preparing for the future. As part of this process, we must recognize that the world has rapidly changed in ways that were previously unimaginable, and that ways of doing business that were developed decades ago may no longer serve our best interests.

At the same time, Bucknell too has changed. As we strengthened our offerings and claimed our distinctive place as a national university at the nexus of the liberal arts, engineering and management, we have — understandably — become larger and more complex. While we continue to honor Bucknell's past, we must also plan our new path in a world that is forever changed by the pandemic — a path that is challenging, yet rich with opportunities. There is a renewed urgency to conduct a thorough evaluation of Bucknell structure, policies and procedures in order to ensure we meet our strategic goals now and are well prepared to serve future generations.

Higher education is critically important work, and I thank you for your dedication to ensuring the best possible experience for our students. Our combined efforts make possible Bucknell's continued strength, and I am grateful for your partnership.

My best,

John C. Bravman
President