Russell Reynolds Associates Assists the University of Buffalo Recruit 16th President
November 6, 2026 – Following an international search, Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates recently assisted in the recruitment of Caroline Attardo Genco as the 16th president of the University of Buffalo (UB) to lead in its search for its 16th president. She succeeds Satish K. Tripathi, who is stepped down after 15 years of distinguished service as UB’s president. Jett Pihakis, Steve Newton, and Joi Hayes-Scott led the assignment. Ms. Genco is the first woman to lead UB in its 180-year history and the first Buffalo native to lead the university in its modern era.
“Dr. Caroline Attardo Genco stood out in an outstanding group of candidates — a pool that included academicians at the heights of their careers,” said Jerry Jacobs, chair of the presidential search committee. “Our search committee was particularly impressed by Dr. Genco’s prioritization of student and faculty success, her unwavering commitment to integrity and her vision for UB’s bright future. The search process and the strength of the field of candidates reinforced that the University at Buffalo is a global destination for excellence, poised to do even greater things under Dr. Genco’s leadership.”
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Caroline Attardo Genco on being named the 16th president of the University at Buffalo,” Mr. Tripathi said. “This remarkable institution has always been defined by its bold vision and profound sense of purpose. I am certain that Dr. Genco will find inspiration in the conviction and commitment of our outstanding scholarly community — as I have throughout my presidential tenure—and I am confident that, under her leadership, the university will continue to build on its extraordinary momentum, advancing our mission of excellence and impact, and shaping UB’s next era of achievement and distinction.”
As the chief academic officer at Tufts, Dr. Genco previously oversaw its 10 schools and two colleges as well as multiple cross-school programs, centers and institutes. She has led the development of a unified academic strategy; expanded cross-school research and education initiatives; strengthened faculty support through recruitment, mentoring and leadership development; and driven an increase in research funding. Serving as Tufts’ provost since 2022, Dr. Genco previously was the university’s vice provost for research. In this capacity, she led efforts to expand interdisciplinary research, strengthen infrastructure and increase external funding.
A nationally recognized researcher in microbiology and immunology, Dr. Genco has built a distinguished academic career in research, teaching and service. She has fostered collaborations across disciplines including infectious diseases, epidemiology, biomedical engineering and public health. Her research is focused on chronic inflammation and the role of the microbiome in systemic inflammatory disorders.
A flagship institution in the State University of New York system, the University at Buffalo is the largest, most comprehensive campus in the 64-campus SUNY system and an internationally renowned center for academic excellence. The school was founded in 1846 as a private medical college located in downtown Buffalo and joined SUNY in 1962. In 1990, UB was the first public university in the Northeast to be admitted into the Association of American Universities, joining North America’s other leading research universities.
Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leadership advisory and search firm. Its 520-plus consultants in 47 offices work with public, private, and non-profit organizations across all industries and regions. The firm also conducts in-depth organizational culture assessment and measures the cultural fit of key leadership and candidates in the following areas: arts and culture, global development, higher education, non-profit health and human services, public sector, social justice and advocacy, as well as trade and professional associations.
Russell Reynolds Associates offers specialized executive search and leadership advisory services for higher education institutions, focusing on finding “future-fit” leaders for colleges, universities, and academic medical centers. They assist with presidential searches, dean appointments, and key functional leadership roles.
Experienced Search Consultants
Mr. Pihakis identifies senior academic and administrative leaders for colleges and universities, with a focus on nationally-ranked research universities and highly-ranked small colleges. Based in Washington D.C., he leads the higher education practice for the firm, leveraging his more than 15 years of leadership experience at top-ranked research universities. Mr. Pihakis leads high-profile academic searches for university presidents, provosts and deans, as well as searches for functional vice presidents, chief administrative officers and chief information officers.
Mr. Newton is the firm’s education practice lead. He has decades of experience leading searches for CEOs, COOs, and board members of prestigious for-profit and non-profit organizations, family enterprises, and public institutions. Mr. Newton works closely with clients across a range of industries and sectors, including but not limited to energy and natural resources, financial services, and private equity and non-profit. He led or co-led the recent presidential searches for Rice University, Barnard College, Trinity University, and American University. He also recruited the chancellors for both the University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System.
Ms. Hayes-Scott specializes in conducting leadership searches for higher education institutions. Based in Washington D.C., she has a demonstrated track record of effective change management and fostering performance enhancement within leadership teams across the social impact sector at Russell Reynolds Associates. Ms. Hayes-Scott works with clients to recruit top executive and non-executive talent, working with organizations of all sizes and geographies.
Related: Russell Reynolds Associates Assists Penn State With Provost Search
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
