President
Raymond E. Crossman is a social justice advocate, educator, and psychologist who is among the USA and Canada’s longest-serving university presidents. In 2003, Dr. Crossman was appointed the sixth president of Adler University. During his tenure, Adler University has grown from a graduate psychology school enrolling about 200 students to a university enrolling more than 2,000 students at its Chicago, Vancouver, and online campuses. With his leadership, the University launched the Adler Institutes for Social Change and Adler Community Health Services – both supporting the health of communities in Chicago and Vancouver.
In 2017, Dr. Crossman became the first university president to disclose his HIV status publicly, using his personal story to advocate for marginalized communities. As president, he ensures Adler University takes a stand on issues such as racial equity, undocumented students, and climate justice.
In his book LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2022), the first on this topic, Dr. Crossman brought together 15 LGBTQ presidents and chancellors to consider why diversity, inclusion, and equity in leadership are important to meet today’s challenges for higher education and human rights. He co-founded LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education, hosted its inaugural meeting in Chicago in 2010, chaired the first national conference for development of LGBTQ leaders in higher education in 2015 on the Chicago Campus of Adler, and co-chaired the growing advocacy organization from 2015 – 2018.
He was recently appointed to the Presidents’ Council of the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities. He serves on the editorial board of Training and Education in Professional Psychology, and he serves on the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Institutional Actions Council. Dr. Crossman is a Past President of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology, is a Past Chair of the Council of Chairs of Training Councils of the American Psychological Association, and served on the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Crossman serves on the board of directors for Chicago Public Media (Governance Chair) and the steering team for the LGBTQ Fund for the Chicago Community Trust. Past board service includes the Center on Halsted (Vice Chair, Program Chair), Chicago Loop Alliance, OUT at Chicago History Museum (Chair), Illinois Campus Compact (Chair), Thresholds, and Life Foundation / Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center. He received the Significant Professional Contribution Award from the Hawai’i Psychological Association, and he was inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame.
Dr. Crossman received his B.S. (summa cum laude) in Psychology and Fine Arts from Fordham University; he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University; and he studied at Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic.
Contact Dr. Crossman directly at 312.662.4001 or via email. Follow @RayCrossman on Twitter.