President Emeritus
Raymond E. Crossman served as the sixth president of Adler University from 2003 to 2024. In May 2024, the Board of Trustees awarded him the title President Emeritus in recognition of his 21 years of distinguished service.
Across his tenure, the institution grew from a psychology school to a graduate university preparing students in social justice practice disciplines. A second campus was added in Vancouver (BC), a third campus online, and the University launched the Adler Institutes for Social Change and Adler Community Health Services. Growth was realized while improving quality markers, such as securing a graduation rate of 85 percent overall and 85 percent for BIPOC students. Scholarships increased severalfold. New campus facilities were built in Chicago and Vancouver. Continuous revision of curricula and other structures ensured the University embody the Adlerian values of social interest, equity, courage, excellence, and pragmatism.
Prior, Dr. Crossman led a small independent psychology school in Hawai’i, focused on education and training in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He has been faculty in clinical psychology since 1992.
In 2017, Dr. Crossman became the first university president to disclose his HIV status publicly, using his personal story to advocate for marginalized communities.
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, equity, and inclusion 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 University, and co-chaired the growing advocacy organization from 2015 – 2018.
He was inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ Hall of Fame in 2020. Dr. Crossman received the Amplifier Award from Chicago Public Media, the Visionary Leadership Award from Haymarket Center, the inaugural Founders Award from LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education, and an honorary doctorate from Columbia College Chicago.
Dr. Crossman serves on the board of directors for Chicago Public Media (Governance Chair, Board Secretary) 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), Thresholds, and Life Foundation / Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center.
Past professional service includes the Presidents’ Council of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the editorial board of Training and Education in Professional Psychology, the board of Illinois Campus Compact (Chair) and the Institutional Actions Council of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). 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 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.