Bradley Prepares for Dual Presidency

Dear Bradley Family,

As the Board of Trustees announced earlier this week, Bradley will have dual presidents beginning May 1. As most of you know, President Roberts and incoming President Standifird have been working closely together for the past several weeks. With President Standifird's duties at Butler University wrapping up sooner than expected, he can officially join our campus as president earlier than anticipated.

This is a great opportunity and a tremendous advantage for Bradley. We can depend on the leadership of two presidents who are focused on moving this institution through the immediate crisis of COVID-19 and preparing it for sustainability for decades to come.

So what does this mean to you, and how will it impact Bradley? President Roberts will focus on the day to day activities and the maintenance of existing business and services, while President Standifird will focus on crisis management, outlining and implementing a strategic transformation plan, revising Bradley’s organizational design, as well as creating a financial stabilization plan for the university.

We recognize the COVID-19 crisis will not likely be over in the immediate future. One of the first actions we are taking is creating an advisory group made up of faculty and staff to identify where Bradley fits in the higher-ed landscape post-pandemic. We are casting a wide net to get input from a variety of areas of the campus. This group is an advisory group, NOT a decision-making group. It will serve as a key source of input for President Standifird as he considers changes necessary to navigate our current financial challenges in a way that positions Bradley for long-term success. This group is being convened now; in fact, we are reaching out to suggested members.

Both of us look forward to what lies ahead for our great institution. We know there are challenges in front of us; some of them are immense. But by drawing on the expertise of the Bradley family and the strength of our founder, we will thrive. Thank you for everything you do to make Bradley University the special place it is.

Stay safe and healthy,

Gary Roberts - President and Professor
Dr. Stephen Standifird - Incoming President