Dear Adelphi Community,
I am thrilled to share some exciting news about one of our distinguished alumni who is making an incredible impact in our community. The Adelphi University Board of Trustees appointed Leonard C. Achan ‘99, MA, RN, ANP, as our new board chair following a special meeting in July, taking over from Trustee William Fuessler ’79, who stepped up as acting chair for the past five months.
Chair Achan’s story truly embodies the Adelphi spirit. A proud first-generation American born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, he began his professional journey right here on our campus, earning his bachelor’s degree in nursing. Like so many of his fellow nursing alumni, Chair Achan started his career at the bedside as a medical ICU nurse and adult acute care nurse practitioner—an experience that deeply informed his compassionate approach to leadership as he became an accomplished healthcare executive and community and business leader.
Today, Chair Achan serves as president and CEO of LiveOnNY. He previously served as the inaugural president of the Innovation Institute at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) after serving as their chief innovation officer. Prior to that, he led major executive initiatives across several roles at the Mount Sinai Health System and served as senior associate dean for global communications, branding, and reputation at the Icahn School of Medicine. As co-founder and chairman of Quality Reviews Inc., he built a digital health platform deployed in more than 150 hospitals, elevating the care experience for more than 30 million patients nationwide.
Throughout his career, Chair Achan’s devotion to Adelphi has never wavered. While serving for more than a decade as a trustee, including five years as a board officer, he has consistently invested back into our campus—returning to lecture, establishing two endowed scholarships, and founding the Achan Family Interfaith Center.
Having worked with him during my time on the board and in our recent conversations, I have seen his razor-sharp mind, energy, and deep passion for our university firsthand. He is a shining example of our strength in producing leaders in nursing, health care and business. I have the utmost confidence that his ambition and commitment to higher education will continue to drive Adelphi forward.
I also want to thank Trustee Fuessler for his steady leadership of the board. His partnership with our senior leaders helped maintain our standard of excellence during an important time of transition at Adelphi. As one of our longest-tenured trustees and someone who has built a family legacy here, it came as no surprise that he approached this responsibility with great care. His ongoing service on the board will continue to benefit our University and serve as a trusted resource for our new chair.
Please join me in celebrating Chair Achan and thanking Trustee Fuessler for their outstanding service to the University.
Warm regards,
Michael Balboni ’81, JD
President