Seton Hall president Joseph Nyre resigns in surprise move
In a surprising move, Seton Hall University President Joseph Nyre is resigning, effectively stepping down a year before his initial five-year term at the helm was due to end in the summer of 2024. The announcement was made in a message sent to the university community early Monday morning.
"I have informed the Board of Regents that I will be taking a sabbatical during the upcoming year and then plan to relinquish my position as President," Nyre wrote in his message.
The root of Nyre’s departure is a clash with some members of the university’s board of regents over problems involving Seton Hall Law School, USA TODAY Network New Jersey has learned. In December 2022, the university announced that a “small number of trusted, long-time employees of Seton Hall Law” embezzled more than $975,000 over several years. The future governance of the law school and its level of autonomy from university leadership – Nyre wanted less autonomy – had become an irreconcilable source of contention between Nyre and members of the university’s governing board.
Katia Passerini, who has served as the university’s provost and executive vice president since June 2020, has been named Seton Hall’s interim president until a successor is found through a national search – a process that could last several months or longer.
"I have pledged my cooperation in assisting with the search for a new President and with making myself available as a resource for the Interim President during my sabbatical," Nyre wrote.
Hired by Seton Hall in 2019 after eight years as the president of Iona University, Nyre oversaw the full-scale renovation of Seton Hall’s 60-year-old student center. He leaves as the school’s next major building project, a $40 million basketball practice facility as an extension of the Richie Regan Recreation and Athletic Center, is getting underway.
"We respect his decision to step down and are grateful that he will work with the Board of Regents to acclimate and support our Interim President," board of regents chair Hank D’Alessandro wrote in a follow-up memo to the university community. "We are also grateful that President Nyre has agreed to serve as Senior Advisor to the University, a further demonstration of his commitment to Seton Hall."
Although an outside hire seems highly likely, one internal name that will be speculated about is Pat Lyons, who has been Seton Hall’s executive vice president and chief of staff since June 2019. Lyons previously served as Seton Hall’s athletics director for eight years and was well-regarded in that position. His standing for the presidency, however, could be impacted by the governing board’s negative view of Nyre because Lyons and Nyre worked so closely together.
Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. He is an Associated Press Top 25 voter. Contact him at jcarino@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seton Hall president Joseph Nyre resigns in surprise move
