Russell Reynolds Associates Leading President Search for the University of Buffalo
March 11, 2026 – Global leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates was recently tapped by the University of Buffalo (UB) to lead in its search for its 16th president. Satish K. Tripathi has announced that he will step down next July. Jett Pihakis, Steve Newton, and Joi Hayes-Scott are leading the assignment. The presidential search committee is composed of a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community representatives. “Jett brings extensive experience in recruiting senior administrators, and his knowledge of our university will make him a highly effective partner throughout this process,” said Jerry Jacobs, chair of the presidential search committee and chair, UB council. “The search committee will begin its work immediately. We will provide updates on the committee’s progress throughout the search, and additional information will be available on the search website.”
The next president will assume leadership of the 179-year-old institution at an important stage in its history. UB ’s next president will provide visionary direction as a SUNY Flagship university and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. As UB ’s chief executive officer, the president reports directly to the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY) and will engage the UB community in the university’s vision and strategic plan for the future. The school’s next president will build the national and international academic and research brand of the institution; cultivate and expand sources of revenue; build upon the university’s position as a destination for international scholars and students; foster an inclusive community; and serve as chief university fundraiser and champion.
The ideal candidate will be a visionary, ethical and empathetic leader with the experience and attributes to be effective in addressing the priorities identified above. UB ’s next president must have a deep appreciation for the significance of UB ’s role as a global institution and for its academic, research and engagement missions as a public research university.
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. UB enrolls over 30,000 students (approximately two-thirds undergraduate and one-third graduate and professional students) and offers nearly 400 degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional, and doctoral levels across its 12 decanal units.
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.
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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
