Two Women University Presidents to Retire at the Conclusion of This Academic Year

Waded Cruzado, president of Montana State University, has announced she will retire in June 2025.

Dr. Cruzado was appointed as Montana State University’s twelfth president in 2010. Over the course of her 15-year tenure, the university experienced growth in its enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; earned the prestigious Carnegie R1 research institution designation; established multiple new academic and career development initiatives; improved campus infrastructure; and secured transformative fundraising donations. Under Dr. Cruzado’s leadership, MSU significantly expanded its research and extension efforts in the field of agriculture, resulting in President Obama appointing her to the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development on two separate occasions.

Prior to her current presidency, Dr. Cruzado worked in higher education as an academic and administrator for 20 years. Her career began as a faculty member in the department of humanities at the University of Puerto Rico, where she ultimately became dean of the university’s College of Arts and Sciences. She transitioned to New Mexico State University, where she served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and later as executive vice president and provost. She served as NMSU’s interim president for one year, making her the first woman and second Hispanic person to serve in the role.

Dr. Cruzado is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, where she majored in comparative literature. She holds a master’s degree in Spanish language and literature and a Ph.D. in humanities from the University of Texas at Austin.

Joyce F. Brown, president of the Fashion Institute of Technology within the State University of New York system, has announced she will step down from her role at the end of this academic year.

In 1998, Dr. Brown was appointed as FIT’s first woman president. Dr. Brown’s leadership has led the institution to create 30 new degree and certificate programs and establish a new 10-story academic building. Additionally, she oversaw the development of FIT’s Social Justice Center, an initiative dedicated to increasing the number of people from underrepresented backgrounds in creative industries; the Center for Innovation, a research center for faculty; and the DTech Lab, an innovation hub for combining design thinking with new technologies.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Brown held several positions with other higher education institutions. At the City University of New York, she served as a professor and as the vice chancellor for student affairs, urban affairs, and development programs. From 1990-1992, she served as acting president of CUNY’s Baruch College. Additionally, she spent one year as deputy mayor for public and community affairs for New York City.

Dr. Brown received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, which later closed and was absorbed by Fordham University. She holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from New York University.