Richard L. McCormick is the 19th president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, a community of more than 50,000 students, over 9,000 faculty and staff, and more than 370,000 living alumni. A scholar of American political history who began his academic career on the Rutgers faculty, he returned as president in 2002 after serving as provost of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and president of the University of Washington.

Since his arrival as president, Dr. McCormick has set a goal of advancing Rutgers to the top tier of American public research universities. Adopting the university tagline “Jersey Roots, Global Reach,” his ambitions for Rutgers include an enriched learning experience for every student; teaching and research focused on global human problems; diversity of students, faculty, staff, and programs; and deeper connections with the people of New Jersey. He has promoted strategically selected interdisciplinary research initiatives in advanced materials and devices, nanotechnology, transportation, nutrition, homeland security, stem cell research, climate change and renewable energy, and global and international studies. In support of these ambitions, Dr. McCormick has worked to ensure administrative efficiency, accountability, and transparency; to gain increased funding from public and private sources; and to provide attractive campuses that offer natural venues for interactions among members of the university community.

Academic Initiatives
Innovations have been a hallmark of Dr. McCormick’s tenure, most notably a major restructuring and reinvigoration of undergraduate education on the university’s largest campus. The plan reconnects the New Brunswick faculty to the work of undergraduate education and offers all 26,000 undergraduates equal access to Rutgers’ high-quality academic programs, participation in the intellectual work that characterizes the university, and access to learning communities of students with similar interests. Among the new initiatives is the Byrne Family First-Year Seminar Program, which offers more than 100 courses—each with no more than 20 students—on a wide range of topics taught by top faculty. Related initiatives established under President McCormick are the Aresty Research Center for Undergraduates and the Office for the Promotion of Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Dr. McCormick has worked to strengthen Rutgers’ relationship with New Jersey’s leaders, businesses, and citizens. He established the first-ever Rutgers Day, inviting the public to a day-long event showcasing the university’s academic, research, cultural, and recreational programs. In response to the economic recession, he announced Rutgers Against Hunger, an initiative to stock food banks in the state, provide consumer education on nutrition, and help community organizations fight hunger. He has expanded the university’s commitment to veterans, including coordinators of veterans’ services on each campus, a dedicated website, and a veteran mentors program.

In 2007, Dr. McCormick announced a series of initiatives to strengthen diversity at Rutgers. Its components include establishment of a president’s council on institutional diversity and equity, a cluster-hiring initiative, and a national conference on diversity in higher education hosted by Rutgers. Along with these efforts, Dr. McCormick launched the Rutgers Future Scholars program, a pilot project to encourage minority and low-income teenagers from the university’s host municipalities of Camden, Newark, New Brunswick, and Piscataway to pursue higher education by offering mentorship and college preparation support, and the promise of free tuition to those admitted to Rutgers.


Rutgers Milestones and Plans
A number of milestones have been achieved at Rutgers during Dr. McCormick’s tenure, including the establishment of Rutgers’ first-ever universitywide alumni body, the Rutgers University Alumni Association. In 2007, Dr. McCormick helped the university surpass $100 million in annual giving for the first time in its history. (Annual giving reached $128.6 million in 2009.)

Also in 2007, Rutgers–Camden established its initial doctoral-level academic program: a Ph.D. in childhood studies, the first in the nation in this emerging discipline. Dr. McCormick supported a major expansion of Rutgers School of Law–Camden, including a new, state-of-the-art law school building and renovation of the existing facility. He also has supported growth in computational biology at Rutgers–Camden.

With the founding of the School of Public Affairs and Administration in 2006, Rutgers–Newark opened its first new school in more than three decades. In 2006, Rutgers–Newark also expanded its teaching and research capacity by opening a Life Sciences Center and welcomed students to University Square, its first new residence hall in 16 years.

Further changes are in the works under Dr. McCormick’s leadership. He has advanced a vision to reshape the university’s Livingston Campus in Piscataway as the home of business and professional studies. He is working with faculty and the Rutgers Foundation to launch a major fundraising campaign.

Personal and Professional Background
The author of three books and numerous articles, Dr. McCormick earned fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Born in 1947, President McCormick is the son of Katheryne Levis McCormick, a longtime Rutgers administrator, and the late Richard P. McCormick RC’38, GSNB’40, a celebrated member of the Rutgers history faculty, university historian, and champion of New Jersey historical scholarship. He earned a B.A. in American studies from Amherst College in 1969 and a Ph.D. in history from Yale University in 1976.

Dr. McCormick is married to Joan Barry McCormick RU’88. Her undergraduate degree is in journalism, and she received her master’s degree in public administration from Kean University. Joan McCormick is currently the vice president for special initiatives at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick. Dr. McCormick has two children, Betsy and Michael.