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Medford/Somerville, Mass. - John DiBiaggio today announced that he will step down from the presidency of Tufts University. DiBiaggio, 68, has presided over the prestigious four-campus, internationally focused private institution since 1992. At the request of the Board of Trustees, he will stay on until a successor is named or until June 2002, whichever occurs first. "I joined Tufts because of its commitment to high-quality teaching, scholarship and research, its global perspective and its dedication to the ethic and practice of public service and active citizenship," DiBiaggio said. "I'm proud to have served at Tufts when the members of our community have made numerous headlines as researchers, educators, business and government leaders, entrepreneurs, change agents and influential policymakers. Tufts is remarkable for having achieved scholarly prominence while maintaining its roots in teaching. Few universities can make that claim." DiBiaggio - a Detroit native and son of Italian immigrant parents-is credited with strengthening the University's academic and financial position, and building a stronger sense of community among the schools on Tufts' three Massachusetts campuses and its European campus in Talloires, France. "John has been a good friend and colleague, and an outstanding leader during a period of unprecedented heights for Tufts University," said Nathan Gantcher, chairman of Tufts' Board of Trustees. "Tufts' reputation for being a leading international university has grown significantly during John's presidency, and we are in the best fiscal and operational condition in our history. The quality of our faculty, researchers and staff, and the credentials of our students also are at an all-time high." Gantcher noted Tufts' endowment has nearly tripled, and there are nearly five times the number of endowed chairs since DiBiaggio's arrival. The University has exceeded its original $400 million "Tufts Tomorrow" campaign and is poised to surpass its revised goal of $600 million by 2002. Tufts' undergraduate program is among the most selective in the country-the number of applicants increased by more than 70 percent in just the past five years, while the scores, grades and rank of the incoming freshmen continues to break school records.
Tufts' campuses also have, or soon will have, major new multimillion-dollar facilities, ranging from the Jaharis Family Biomedical Nutrition Research Center in Boston and the Bernice Barbour Wildlife Medicine Building in Grafton to Dowling Hall, home of an all-in-one student services center, and the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center in Medford and Somerville, Mass. "The most important thing I did in my years as a trustee at Tufts was chair the search committee that brought John here," said Brian O'Connell, who recently retired as a Tufts trustee. "He's fulfilled all our expectations-and far more." O'Connell added that, thanks to DiBiaggio's sponsorship of Tufts' new College of Citizenship and Public Service, "the very definition of a Tufts education will mean preparation for a lifetime of active citizenship and personal service" to the communities in which they live and work. DiBiaggio added that he also is "particularly proud" to see the growth of "real collaboration"-in joint academic programs and research-and the sharing of ideas among scholars, researchers and Tufts students on all campuses. "Universities typically find themselves operating in 'silos,' with each school focused on doing what it does best-within its own discipline," DiBiaggio said. "Tufts has very low walls from one school to the next, and everyone-students, faculty and staff-benefits. We now have 14 joint degree programs, up from one when I arrived. And each of our schools is participating in University-wide, internationally focused initiatives on aging, children's issues and the environment. As a result, Tufts today is far greater than the sum of its parts." Gantcher added that, on top of these significant achievements, DiBiaggio also earned high marks for warmth and accessibility. "Faculty, staff, students and their parents often tell us they appreciate his open door policy," Gantcher added. "He's been a very visible president, always making extra time to talk with students, cheer them on during finals and celebrate their achievements." Gantcher also said DiBiaggio and his wife, Nancy, have "tirelessly and graciously" served as the University's own First Family-warmly welcoming thousands of Tufts' friends and family and international dignitaries over the years to the president's residence, Gifford House. "They have played a major role in making every visitor, every member of the Tufts family, feel very special about this University-and we are most grateful." Prior to his appointment at Tufts, DiBiaggio served as president of Michigan State University from 1985 to 1992; president of the University of Connecticut from 1979 to 1985; and vice president for health affairs and executive director of the medical center at the University of Connecticut from 1976 to 1979. In addition to holding many other administrative appointments, he has served as a tenured professor in a number of departments. He holds three degrees and 10 honorary degrees. As one who has held a lifelong commitment to volunteering, DiBiaggio has served on the boards of the American Council on Education, Campus Compact, Golden Key National Honor Society, the American Film Institute, and the NCAA Foundation, among others. He is also a member of the Commission on the International Exchange of Scholars, and serves as President of the Board of the American Cancer Society Foundation. He is also a director of the Kaman Corporation and of the national American Automobile Association. Gantcher said a search for DiBiaggio's successor will begin immediately.
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Tufts
President Announces Plans To Leave
In
addition, the University's graduate and professional schools in
medicine, biomedical sciences, dentistry, nutrition, international
relations and veterinary medicine stand alongside the country's
most prestigious programs. This year, research undertaken by Tufts
and its affiliated hospitals will exceed $120 million. 
