Mitchel Wallerstein, the dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, will leave his position in late July to become president of Baruch College, a City University of New York school.

‘I am very excited for the opportunity given to me,’ Wallerstein said.

Wallerstein will start his position as president of Baruch beginning Aug. 2, after serving as dean of Maxwell for seven years. Syracuse University will begin looking for a new dean and will soon name an interim dean to serve during the transition.

Wallerstein was offered the position about a week ago and was officially appointed Monday. Baruch publicly announced Wallerstein as one of three finalists for president about a month ago.

‘Dean Mitchel Wallerstein brings to the university exceptional administrative, academic and governmental experience together with outstanding public service, scholarly accomplishment, a strong commitment to students and a deep belief in the mission of Baruch College,’ Baruch Board of Trustees Chairman Benno Schmidt and Chancellor Matthew Goldstein said in a joint statement in a Baruch news release Monday.

Baruch College is a public college in lower Manhattan and is one of the biggest CUNY schools, with 12,500 undergraduate students and 3,500 graduate students.

Wallerstein will succeed Stan Altman, who has served as interim president of Baruch since 2009, according to the release.

Eric Spina, SU vice chancellor and provost, will meet with Maxwell faculty soon to discuss the dean transition. An interim dean who has yet to be determined will take Wallenstein’s position until a permanent dean is named, Spina said.

After naming an interim dean, SU will hold a nationwide search for the next dean, a process that will take most of next year, Spina said. Spina will make the final decision but will also hear input from faculty, alumni and trustees, he said.

Maxwell will hopefully have a permanent dean by summer 2011, Spina said. The decision to pick an interim dean from inside or outside Maxwell remains undetermined, he said.

The new dean would have to work collaboratively in Maxwell as well as with other deans at SU, Spina said.

‘We’re looking for someone who is a very strong scholar,’ Spina said. ‘We’re looking for someone who is a strong leader who can take what is a wonderful platform and continue to expand its reputation.’

Wallerstein said the thought of leaving is bittersweet. He has served as the dean of Maxwell for seven years and holds a master’s in public administration from Maxwell.

‘I am very deeply connected to the Maxwell School,’ Wallerstein said. ‘It is very emotional for me to leave.’

Spina and Wallerstein have worked closely for years. Spina said he shares Wallerstein’s bittersweet feeling.

‘He certainly will be missed,’ Spina said. ‘But I’m happy because ultimately it was something he has always wanted.’

jjmontal@syr.edu

Published on February 23, 2010 at 12:00 pm