Michael J. Avaltroni was appointed the ninth president in Fairleigh Dickinson’s history on April 26, 2023. A long-time faculty member and administrator, he had previously been serving as Interim President since January 1, 2023.

Dr. Avaltroni is a 1999 graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, receiving a B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude. He is the first FDU graduate to serve as the institution’s president. He went on to complete an M.A. in chemistry in 2001 and a Ph.D. in chemistry in 2003, both from Princeton University. His research interest is in surface science, specifically focused on surface modification of titanium materials to facilitate cell attachment, biomineralization and interfacial adhesion in biomedical devices. His research in this area has led to multiple publications and 10 United States patents.

Among other notable recent initiatives during his tenure, the University created FDU Health, a new division uniting programs in the health sciences. It also established Lifelong Learning at FDU, an initiative to educate across the lifespan. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, he was named to the ROI Influencers: Higher Education Power List and cited as an “Outspoken new leader who brings new perspective to higher education. Simply put, he’s not afraid to say the sector needs to modernize.”