Dr. Richard E. Cosentino began his tenure as Lander University's 12th president on July 1, 2015. He has more than 20 years of experience in higher education as a senior administrative and financial executive, and a background in fundraising, enrollment management and government relations.
Letter from the President
Lander University is a community where learning, energy and creativity flourish. Established over 150 years ago, Lander's tradition of academic excellence is exemplified in its liberal arts and science programs, as well as professional programs in business, education, and nursing.
I invite you to visit our beautiful 128-acre campus and experience first-hand the sense of community that has been cultivated by our faculty and students. Lander is a community designed to engage and challenge. Students come to Lander from 29 states and 17 countries, committing to an education that prepares them to be successful in today's extremely competitive environment, where a graduate's marketability matters.
Lander students gain a successful college experience both in and out of the classroom. Many clubs, organizations, and volunteer opportunities are offered to get you involved with other students and the community. In addition, Lander has an outstanding athletic program, with athletic teams collecting honors at state and national levels.
Join the Lander family and come home to talented scholars, inspiring artists, exceptional athletes, dynamic professionals, and inquiring students.
Dr. Richard Cosentino
President
About the President
Dr. Richard Cosentino has served as President of Lander University since 2015. During his tenure, he has led significant institutional growth, including a more than 70% increase in enrollment, and a 143% increase in degrees awarded. In addition, the university’s endowment has grown by more than 300%, and state appropriations have increased by 283%.
Beyond his leadership at Lander University, Dr. Cosentino has made significant contributions to the state of South Carolina through his service as chair of the South Carolina Education & Workforce Portal Project, the centerpiece of the state’s Unified Employment Plan. He represents South Carolina’s four-year universities on the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development and served as the South Carolina’s comprehensive university president representative on the Southern Regional Education Board’s Subcommittee on Career Pathways and Credentials. He also serves as board chair of the South Carolina Institute on the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses (SCIP), which he helped establish in collaboration with Governor McMaster and state legislators. In addition, Dr. Cosentino is the former chair of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Peer Review Advisory Board and president and longtime Executive Committee member of the Peach Belt Athletic Conference.
Dr. Cosentino also serves as a doctoral dissertation committee member for the GWU School of Engineering and has served as a professorial lecturer in the School of Engineering’s Department of Engineering Management & Systems Engineering.
Prior to his appointment in South Carolina, Dr. Cosentino held senior positions at the University of North Carolina Pembroke, The George Washington University, The University of Maryland, and The Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Cosentino holds a PhD in Systems Engineering from The George Washington University and an MBA from the University of Baltimore.