Adam Roth Selected for AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance

Press release

Quinnipiac University Dean Adam Roth selected for AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education

HAMDEN, Conn. - Adam Roth of Hamden, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Quinnipiac University, has been selected as a member of the Association of Governing Board’s (AGB) Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education’s Class of 2025-26, a national program designed to prepare senior academic leaders for presidencies and other top positions in higher education.

Roth joins a distinguished cohort of 25 leaders from institutions across the country, who will begin the program with an in-person symposium in Washington, D.C., in September.

Now in its seventh year, the AGB Institute has had 24 of its fellows go on to become college or university presidents or chancellors.

“This is a tremendous honor and opportunity to learn from and alongside some of the most thoughtful and forward-looking leaders in higher education,” Roth said. “As we face a period of profound transformation in our industry, I’m inspired by the chance to help shape a future for higher education that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient.”

The AGB Institute focuses on strengthening the pipeline of diverse, highly qualified presidential candidates. Participants engage in a yearlong experience that includes mentoring, case-study-based symposia, and deep dives into the critical issues facing higher education today, from governance and financial sustainability to institutional strategy and student success.

Roth, a transformative academic leader with a strong entrepreneurial vision, has served as dean of Quinnipiac’s College of Arts & Sciences since 2021. He is known for championing interdisciplinary learning, student engagement and inclusive excellence, and for fostering collaborative partnerships across the university and beyond.

Debra Liebowitz, provost at Quinnipiac University, said, “"Adam’s innovative leadership has significantly strengthened our institution and expanded opportunities for our students. His creative vision and ability to build cross-disciplinary collaborations make him an outstanding choice for the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education."

The program’s relevance is especially timely, according to Rod McDavis, managing principal and CEO of AGB Search. “Now more than ever, colleges and universities need talented and motivated leaders who are prepared to navigate the ongoing changes to the higher education environment,” he said.

Roth graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s business dual-major program with a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric and business administration. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Iowa, earning an M.A. and a Ph.D. in communication studies and rhetoric and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary inquiry. He also completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University’s Institutes for Higher Education.

Roth and his wife Phoebe, a healthcare attorney, live in Hamden with their sons, Richard, and Daniel.

For more information about the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education, visit www.leadandgovern.com.