Lawrence University names next president

APPLETON - Lawrence University is going to the Ivy League to find its next campus leader.

The college has named Mark Burstein, executive vice president of Princeton University, as its 16th president. Burstein is set to take office next July 1. He will succeed Jill Beck, who plans to retire June 30 after nine years as university president.

"I was drawn to Lawrence's rigorous academic environment, its commitment to providing an individualized learning experience to all students and its unique combination of a strong liberal arts education with a nationally-recognized conservatory of music," Burstein said in a news release.

Lawrence officials say Burstein, 51, brings an Ivy League connection along with a background in higher education leadership, government service, investment banking and consulting.

Named executive vice president at Princeton in 2004, Burstein led efforts to enhance campus life and modernize the university's operations and infrastructure. His responsibilities include overseeing a $200 million budget and a staff of 1,800 in the areas of student life, public safety, university audit and compliance, human resources and facilities.

According to Lawrence leaders, Burstein played a prominent role in developing priorities for a $1.88 billion fundraising campaign and assisted in securing gifts to support academic initiatives, campus life and athletics while at Princeton.

Burstein spent 10 years at Columbia University in several senior positions: acting vice president of human resources; vice president of student services; and vice president of facilities management.

A native of Cedar Grove, N.J., Burstein earned a bachelor's degree in history and independent studies at Vassar College, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Burstein has served as a member of the Vassar Board of Trustees since 2009 and recently served on the New York City Mayor's Applied Sciences Advisory Board. He spent two years as chair of the board of directors of the Victory Fund, a Washington, D.C.-based national political action committee.

Burstein will be joined in Appleton by his spouse David Calle, who is the Global Chief Financial Officer of Unilever’s Food Solutions business.

Burstein was chosen from more than 100 candidates.

Lawrence plans to officially introduce Burstein to the Fox Valley community at a Jan. 3 event.