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In a surprise email to the Seton Hall community Monday morning, Joseph Nyre announced he is stepping down as president of the university, a job he has held since August 2019.

“With the conclusion of Harvest Our Treasures (a three-year strategic plan) in sight, I believe this is an appropriate time for new leadership to help write the next chapter of Seton Hall’s remarkable story,” Nyre wrote in his July 24 message. “As such, I have informed the Board of Regents that I will be taking a sabbatical during the upcoming year and then plan to relinquish my position as president.”

“On behalf of the Board of Regents, I would like to extend the university’s sincere gratitude to President Nyre for the many ways he has elevated Seton Hall during his tenure,” Hank D’Alessandro, chair, board of regents, wrote in a follow-up message to the SHU community Monday. “He led us through COVID-19 while continuing to advance and achieve vital strategic goals, helping the university avoid the pandemic paralysis that became commonplace across much of U.S. higher education. His leadership resulted in great strides across nearly every aspect of the Seton Hall experience, including enrollment and retention, academics, student services, affordability, campus buildings and fundraising.”

“I am extremely proud of the significant progress and fulfillment that has occurred in each of these areas,” said Nyre. “Yet these are not my achievements alone, but accomplishments shared by our entire community that have elevated Seton Hall over the past four years.”

Moving forward, Seton Hall plans to appoint an interim president while it searches for a permanent replacement — a process Nyre will assist with.

“It is important that Seton Hall has the time it needs to conduct a thorough search for its 22nd President, an effort that will begin immediately,” said Nyre. “As the appointed Senior Adviser to the University, I have pledged my cooperation in assisting with the search for a new president and with making myself available as a resource for the interim president during my sabbatical.”

According to the Daily Record, which first reported the news, Nyre’s exit comes in the wake of disagreements with some board of regents members over issues involving Seton Hall Law School, which announced in December 2022 that a “small number of trusted, long-time employees of Seton Hall Law” embezzled more than $975,000 over several years.

“We respect his decision to step down and are grateful that he will work with the Board of Regents to acclimate and support our interim president, who will be named shortly,” said D’Alessandro. “We are also grateful that President Nyre has agreed to serve as Senior Adviser to the university, a further demonstration of his commitment to Seton Hall.”

D’Alessandro said that because of Nyre’s accomplishments, Seton Hall is well-positioned to attract a dynamic and visionary president “who will lead us to even greater heights.”

“Rest assured, the Board of Regents will work diligently to conduct a national search for a new president who will continue our mission of delivering the life-changing Catholic higher education which has been a hallmark of Seton Hall throughout its 167-year history,” D’Alessandro added. “I am eager to begin the next chapter of Seton Hall’s extraordinary story. We thank President Nyre for navigating Seton Hall through one of the most challenging periods in higher education’s recent history, and we are grateful for his commitment to assist the university with its search for a new president.”

“I will always remember my years at the university with great fondness, and wish everyone health, happiness and success,” said Nyre. “Go Pirates!”