Doug Hertz, Board of Tulane Chair, cited Tulane President Mike Fitts’ transformative leadership when he announced in June that the board had secured President Fitts’ commitment to remain at Tulane.

“The Board of Tulane’s early action in securing Mike’s long-term commitment is a testament to how highly we regard, appreciate and value his leadership,” Hertz said.

“Our national rankings have risen dramatically,” added Hertz. “Each year our incoming classes have broken records in terms of their academic achievements and their level of civic engagement. The diversity of our incoming classes has also increased substantially as Tulane is attracting top students from all backgrounds.”

Tulane has consistently shattered fundraising records since Fitts’ arrival in 2014, and in December launched “Only the Audacious,” the university’s most ambitious quest to secure the future of its pioneering research; recruit and retain the world’s best faculty; increase scholarships and financial aid to attract the best students from across the globe; and build on the strategy to create a learning experience powered by innovation, firsthand experience and community service.

Tulane has also grown physically under Fitts, who served 14 years as dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School prior to becoming Tulane’s 15th president. Major building projects under Fitts include the more than $35 million Goldring/Woldenberg Business Complex; the transformation of Mussafer Hall into the central location for services dedicated to student success; the building of new residence halls; and construction of The Commons, a three-story, $55 million, 77,000-square-foot marvel that will house a new dining hall, multipurpose meeting spaces and a permanent home for the Newcomb College Institute.