La Salle University
President's Report | 2025
A message from the Office of the President
Dear Explorers,
Over the course of 2024 and throughout my tenure as President, I continue to take great pride in the remarkable achievements at La Salle University. This past year, we launched the ‘Be Known for More’ marketing campaign, welcomed our largest undergraduate class in four years, and earned top rankings for education, ROI, and social mobility. Philanthropy reached new heights with a record-breaking Day of Giving, while new programs like Sport Management and global partnerships enriched our offerings. Celebrating milestones like the 30th anniversary of the BUSCA Program, alumni honors, faculty achievements, and dynamic campus life showcased La Salle’s enduring excellence. Together, we continue to empower Explorers to shape a brighter future.
Sincerely,
Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D.
President
Outcomes
Be Known For More
The University began the year by proudly launching its new ‘Be known for More’ branding campaign, inviting current and future Explorers everywhere to reflect on what they stand for and how they want to be known.
In fall 2024, La Salle welcomed its largest incoming undergraduate class in four years—a testament to the growing recognition of La Salle’s outstanding education and results. The 600-plus new and transfer students represented a 23% increase over the previous year.
The part-time MBA ranking climbed 31 spots.
On this year’s NCLEX exam, first-time pass rates for La Salle undergraduate students exceeded the 90.7% average posted by their Pennsylvania peers as well as the 93% national average.
La Salle voted the best of Philadelphia three categories in the Metro Philly’s Best 2024.
The votes are in: La Salle University takes the gold in the colleges and universities category of The Philadelphia Inquirer Philly Favorites competition.
Academics
La Salle and its sister school, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, bolster exchange opportunities with agreement. With a visiting delegation from the Philippines on hand, representatives from […]
La Salle’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences launched its own Post BSN to DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice Anesthesia program in early 2024.
The new program will give students a comprehensive understanding of the sports business world.
The University program is designed to help students improve their English language skills while earning credits at La Salle toward an associate degree. A transformative program at La Salle University […]
Faculty Achievements
The Stanford study ranked the academics based on research citation metrics.
Associate Professor Siobhan Conaty, Ph.D., was honored with induction into The College of Physicians of Philadelphia on Nov. 15, 2024. She was among the 27 inductees that included prominent physicians, experts from public health and academia, and civic leaders.
Florence Ling, Ph.D., will collaborate on finding critical minerals vital to developing renewable energy technology.
Candace Robertson-James, DrPH, MPH and Joanne Woods, M.A. ’14, earned recognition for their commitment to La Salle.
On April 4, 2024, La Salle University celebrated seven faculty members from the School of Arts and Science who published this past year.
Dr. Lynne Collins, Professor of Psychology, was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Heritage Award by the Society for the Psychology of Women (SPW) of the American Psychological Association (APA). This award is given annually, “to an individual who has made distinguished, substantial, and long-standing feminist contributions to women and gender, intersectionally and/or globally.”
Dr. Anthony Pizzo, Assistant Professor of Management and Leadership, received a Research Fellow Award from the North American Society for Sport Management. This award is given annually to select members of the NASSM for achievement in sport-related scholarship of the highest distinction.
Campus News
In front of over 200 students, faculty, Christian Brothers, donors, alumni, and friends, La Salle University opened the first portion of its rebuilt basketball arena, John Glaser Arena on Wednesday afternoon. The area to the west of Trumark Financial Center, in which the arena is housed, has been dramatically renovated and will take the name Tom Gola Plaza, paying homage to the Philadelphia basketball Icon. In addition to the plaza, the University announced the new address of the arena driveway, Tom Gola Way.
La Salle is fostering a dynamic and engaging environment for students and fans alike with the opening in November 2024, the John E. Glaser Arena features a 360-degree bowl with all chairbacks, state of the art video boards, both in the center hung and multiple ribbons, completely redone audio and lighting systems, and several more improvements to the fan experience that contribute to an improved homecourt advantage for the Explorers. Sitting inside the TruMark Financial Center, Glaser Arena is the new home to the Explorers’ men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The Nonprofit Center at La Salle University has assumed the programming of the 43-year-old Arts + Business Council from its longtime host, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, beginning fall 2024. The Nonprofit Center plans to host the regional board member training program “Business on Board,” as well as the equity-focused “Inclusive Onboarding” workshop in 2025. The Nonprofit Center will collaborate with funders and partner organizations to identify and address additional needs of our regional arts and culture organizations.
La Salle University has been recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (ALL IN) as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. La Salle is one of 471 colleges and universities recognized for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2024 election.
Student Experience
A La Salle degree can take students anywhere. And for some that can mean traveling the world while a student.
The University will honor first-gen students, faculty, and staff throughout the week from Nov. 11-14, 2024.
Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion
Explorers participate in International Association of La Salle Universities summer program
The X Leadership and Global Understanding Summer Program for student leaders helped participants build leadership skills in a Lasallian context.
Total Fundraising 2024 – $11 million
- 2024 Day of Giving raised more than $1.4 million, the most successful in the program’s 11-year history
- Alumni pledged lead gifts of $1,000,000 and $300,000 to support the Varsity Athletics Locker Room and Meeting Facilities project, enhancing the experience for La Salle student-athletes
- An alumnus and spouse made a lifetime pledge of $1,000,000 to support La Salle as part of their estate plans
- Alumni made lead planned giving pledges of $500,000 and $300,000 to plant the seeds for long-term investment in the future of La Salle
Arena Fundraising – $12 million
- While not limited to 2024, alumni and friends helped bring to life the John E. Glaser Arena through their philanthropy, which was opened to a raucous Explorer crowd on Nov. 4, 2024
A Lasting Impact
The experiences as a student for Bill Matthews, ’90, along with the influence of the Christian Brothers, and he and his wife Nancy Matthews’ steadfast support for President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D., are the primary drivers for a $1 million lifetime pledge that the couple have made to La Salle.
Known for Supporting Students
- Known for Supporting Students was launched as a new initiative focused on closing the gaps that prevent students from becoming Explorers and closing the gaps that prevent students from returning to campus as Explorers. Every gift helps make the La Salle experience possible for a new or returning student.
- There is evidence of progress all around us at La Salle University. While that progress is real and meaningful, we remain mindful of a serious responsibility—to ensure that a La Salle education is accessible.
- The Known for Supporting Students initiative is a direct, student-centered effort to ensure that students who are working hard to change their lives through education can progress toward earning—and ultimately earn—their undergraduate degree without disruption because of financial need.
Athletics
La Salle University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation is adding four varsity sports—women’s rugby, women’s acrobatics and tumbling, and women’s triathlon, and will reinstate baseball — for the 2025-26 school year, President Daniel J. Allen, Ph.D., and Vice President of Athletics & Recreation and Director of Athletics Ashwin Puri announced today. In addition, La Salle will bolster its cheerleading and dance squads as well as add a band program to enhance the student experience on campus and the fan experience at athletic competitions.
La Salle University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics were excited to welcome three former student-athletes to an exclusive group, as Susan Rothwell, ‘86, (women’s swimming & diving), Sean Connors-McBride, ‘07, (men’s swimming & diving), and Ryan Richter ‘10, (men’s soccer) comprised the Hall of Athletes Class of 2024.The class was inducted into the Hall of Athletes at a ceremony on campus inside the Edward J., ‘63, and Darlene P. Fierko Atrium in Founders’ Hall on April 20, 2024.
The La Salle University men’s rowing team has become one of the top collegiate programs on the Schuylkill River in recent years. National rankings, multiple appearances at IRA National Championships, and numerous cup victories over the last two seasons have made La Salle a prominent name in the world of men’s collegiate rowing. None of those accomplishments compare, however, to what took place in early July, when 15 student-athletes made La Salle rowing history and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to become the first team to participate in the world’s most prestigious rowing event—the Henley Royal Regatta.
La Salle cross country runners MacCallum Rowe, ’25, and Gwenno Goode, ’27, have each been named the Most Outstanding Performer following the Atlantic 10 Championships, which was announced Saturday afternoon. Rowe won the individual title at the Atlantic 10 Championships, crossing the line in 23:37.9. His time broke the record for fastest 8k time in the conference championships. That record had stood for 39 years. Goode also won the individual title at the conference championship meet, finishing the 6k in a time of 20:10.4. Her time was 28 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.