Thomas J. Schwarz, JD

Advisor, SPH Consulting Group

Tom is President Emeritus of Purchase College SUNY where he served 17 years as college president. Most recently he served as interim, then president, of Drew University, fulfilling a three-year commitment. During his tenure at Purchase, Tom oversaw important transformation of the campus academically, financially, and culturally, including the creation of the essential learning and advising centers, with significantly improved student retention and graduation rates, and student life. Tom has had a personal and lifelong commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation, modeled through multiple campus initiatives. Under his leadership the college secured over $400 million in capital construction and rehabilitation funds for academic and residential buildings, and nearly tripled its endowment. Under Tom’s auspices, the campus also received the SUNY Shared Governance Award in 2017. At Drew he worked to stabilize the University and prepare it for a long-term president. At both Purchase and Drew he engaged in analyses and discussions of potential transactions. Prior to serving at SUNY Purchase, Tom had been a successful attorney and litigator where he dealt with many corporate merger transactions. He was asked to serve as acting president of his alma mater, Hamilton College where he has been on the board of trustees since the 1980s.