Tetlow broke both the barriers in her previous job. She is currently president of Loyola University New Orleans (a 110-year-old Jesuit University).
Tetlow was unanimously elected Thursday to be Fordham’s next president. He will begin July 1, Fordham Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Daleo stated in a press release.
Fordham is at a historical and exciting time. He wrote that Fordham is a university that aims to transform the lives of its students and was preparing for bold new leadership.
The Rev. After nearly two decades of service, Joseph McShane is retiring. McShane stated that the Jesuit population in the U.S. is declining and it was time for the United States to embrace change.
“The demographic realities of the country are hard…Right now there are only 2,086 Jesuits nationwide. The average age is more than 70. We wanted to ensure that the university was in good hands. McShane stated that those hands belong to Tania.
Tetlow is a layperson who was moving from one Jesuit university in the US to another. She said that it was important for the laity not to lose the history and prestige of Jesuit education.
She said that she was the first lay president of Loyola and that it was an opportunity for her to remind everyone, given the shrinking priests, that they must take on the mission as laypeople or lose.
Tetlow stated that her top priorities at Fordham include diversifying the student population “at a time when 18-year olds in the Northeast are shrinking in number.”
Loyola is home to approximately 3,800 students. Fordham, which was founded in 1841 and has around 15,000.
Loyola has seen 11% growth in enrollment under Tetlow. The school’s largest and most diverse freshman class ever started in fall 2021, Loyola stated in a separate press release. She was credited with creating new academic programs in rapidly growing fields such as neuroscience, nursing, marketing, communications, cybersecurity, and health care administration.
Steve Landry, Loyola’s chair of the board of trustees, said that “We are so thankful for President Tetlow’s dedicated leadership and are thrilled for them and their new colleagues at Fordham University.” “We wish her success as she assumes this highly coveted position at a Jesuit university.”
In August 2018, Tetlow was elected president of Loyola and was officially inaugurated in November 2018.
Loyola’s vice-president of mission and identity Father Justin Daffron will serve as its interim president.
Tetlow, whose grandparents were Loyola deans and parents there, said, “It has been my greatest privilege to serve the presidency of Loyola. An extraordinary institution that means so many to me and generations to my family.”
She said, “My decision to accept this new position was bittersweet, but Loyola is in great hands.” “I am proud of the work that we did together, and I will be celebrating Loyola’s continued success from New York.”
