Meet Our Executive Leaders

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, became Adelphi University’s 10th president and the first woman to serve in the role in 2015. She is an internationally recognized expert in leadership development, team building, and diversity and inclusion, and is recognized for her groundbreaking initiatives to personalize and transform the higher education experience. Named one of the “25 Top Women in Higher Education Who Are Making a Difference” by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine, Dr. Riordan has published nearly 70 academic and business press articles and is authoring Shift Happens: How to Adapt and Thrive in a Rapidly Changing World of Work.

She received both an MBA and a PhD in organizational behavior from Georgia State University and a bachelor’s degree in textile engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

The provost is the chief academic officer of Adelphi University and is supported by the Office of the Provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.

Christopher Storm Jr., PhD, who joined Adelphi in 2007 as assistant professor of mathematics, was named provost and executive vice president in June 2021. Most recently had been the University’s senior associate provost for faculty advancement and research. Earlier, he served as associate professor and department chair before moving full-time to academic administration in 2016 as an associate provost. Dr. Storm earned his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD from Dartmouth College. His honors include receiving, in 2013, the Mathematical Association of America’s Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty Member; in 2012, an Adelphi Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching; and, from 2010 to 2012, participating as a member of the project team for the National Science Foundation grant MathVote: Teaching Mathematics with Classroom Voting.

The Division of Student Affairs is home to several distinct areas dedicated to student life: student involvement, health services, interfaith community, residential life and housing, student access, student counseling and student conduct.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging works collaboratively with Adelphi students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni to advance positive change, break down barriers to success, and create a University community where everyone belongs and all feel welcome.

R. Sentwali Bakari, PhD, serves as an ambassador and advocate for Adelphi students. He earned his doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado and is also an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He passionately supports promoting and infusing global and multicultural understanding among students—an appreciation he gained through numerous international experiences. A recipient of the International Education Administrators Fulbright Award to the United Kingdom in 2013, he also participated in an African American faculty delegation to Israel; served as dean of students for Semester at Sea; and co-developed travel courses to Israel, Egypt and Turkey. He has responsibility for health services, student involvement, student conduct, residential life, counseling and support services, student access, the Center for Career and Professional Development, and the Interfaith Center, among others.

In 2023, Dr. Bakari’s role at Adelphi expanded to include oversight of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, an office first formally established in 2015 which continues to earn honors for a commitment to creating an inclusive and connected community and to making Adelphi a model of DEIB.

Adelphi’s Office of Enrollment Management is committed to recruiting and enrolling exceptional students. The office oversees University Admissions and Student Financial Services.

University Communications and Marketing manages the Adelphi brand. Its team of writers, editors, designers, content producers, project managers and other communications professionals support institutional goals including enrollment, academic, and advancement priorities.

Kristen Capezza leads Adelphi’s Office of Enrollment Management, committed to recruiting and enrolling exceptional students. This office oversees University admissions, pre-college and high school programs, and student financial services. She also leads the Office of University Communications and Marketing, composed of writers, editors, designers, content producers, project managers and other communications professionals—all of whom support enrollment, academic, advancement and general University priorities. Capezza has served Adelphi in various leadership roles for more than a decade. Additionally, she has served the enrollment industry as an affiliate and past regional president of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling and as a local executive board member of the Nassau Counselors’ Association. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from Bryant University and an MBA from Adelphi.

The Advancement and External Relations team encompasses advancement, alumni relations and special events. The professionals across these areas are responsible for fundraising, alumni engagement, community outreach and producing campus events of all sizes.

Thomas A. Kline, EdD, leads the advancement and external relations team, encompassing fundraising, alumni relations, community and government relations, academic ceremonies, and special events. Dr. Kline believes strongly in the transformative impact of philanthropy and seeks to form meaningful relationships that will enable Adelphi to better serve its students and meet the challenges of tomorrow.

In addition to friend- and fund-raising prowess, Dr. Kline brings to Adelphi a diverse set of experiences spanning higher education administration, including strategic planning, enrollment management, student affairs, international initiatives, and academic program development.

Originally from Cortland, New York, Dr. Kline attended Ithaca College, where he earned a Bachelor of Music. After a brief career as a professional percussionist and teacher, he returned to his alma mater to serve as director of music admission and preparatory programs for the Ithaca College School of Music. While at Ithaca, he earned his Master of Science in communications and in 2017 completed his doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Adelphi’s centralized Information Technology team supports all facets of technology at the University including a vast array of IT services for the academic community. Using research, analysis, communication and innovation, the team works collaboratively with leadership and the community to optimize user experience, promote shared services and welcome new ideas.

In her role as Chief Information Officer, Carol Ann Boyle plays a pivotal role in aligning technology with the University’s strategic objectives, driving digital transformation and ensuring robust information security. She spearheads the development and implementation of comprehensive technology initiatives that are efficient, reliable and secure and enhance the University’s academic and administrative processes. In leading the development and maintenance of administrative systems that focus on process improvement, she ensures new implementations enhance user experience and streamline operations across the institution. In addition to her expertise in technology leadership, Boyle actively contributes to IT governance and policy development, and forges partnerships and collaborations that drive innovation and support the university’s technology ecosystem.

Boyle is dedicated to embracing a culture of continuous improvement at Adelphi, fostering innovation and leveraging technology to meet the evolving needs of students, faculty, and staff, and to facilitating seamless teaching, learning, and administrative capabilities. She has been with the university for over 25 years and earned her MBA degree from Adelphi University Robert B. Willumstad School of Business.

The Office of Finance and Operations is dedicated to advancing the University’s financial strength and operational excellence by improving existing resources and operations to provide an exemplary environment for learning, teaching and working.

Michael Rhattigan is the Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive financial and managerial experience to the university. Prior to joining Adelphi in 2022, Rhattigan spent over a decade leading two eLearning platforms in K-12 education, which he helped grow into approximately 30,000 schools worldwide. Rhattigan previously directed a consolidation of broadcasting stations, during which he successfully executed considerable equity and debt financing, restructuring, and cost management. Michael began his career at Andersen Consulting and subsequently moved to Europe, helping clients implement controls, processes, and technology to transform their organizations. He later worked in debt securities at JPMorgan.

Rhattigan has an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Adelphi’s Division of Human Resources, Safety and Administration comprises the Office of Human Resources, the Department Public Safety and Transportation, the Office of Community Concerns and Resolution, the Title IX Office, and the University Mail Center. The team works together with leaders and colleagues throughout the university to provide a supportive, responsive, respectful, and safe Adelphi.

Since joining Adelphi in 2022, John Siderakis has championed the University’s commitment to creating a welcoming and modern, responsive and inclusive academic community. As Chief Administrative Officer and an advocate of Adelphi employees, Siderakis oversees the University’s Division of Human Resources, Safety and Administration—comprising the Office of Human Resources, the Department Public Safety and Transportation, the Office of Community Concerns and Resolution, the Title IX Office, and the University Mail Center.

A seasoned Higher Education professional with more than 15 years as a human resources leader for the State of New York and City of New York university systems (SUNY and CUNY), Siderakis is also a well-versed global human resources executive, having led administrative functions for the Athens 2004 Olympics Games Committee, JetBlue Airways, and Vodafone Wireless. He is passionate about strategic transformation, compassionate thought leadership, human resources and mathematics. Siderakis earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematics at the University of Athens, his MBA at the Athens Graduate Business School, The American College of Greece and a Human Resources Studies Certificate from Cornell University.