Drexel University’s Board of Trustees has confirmed by a unanimous vote political economist and academic, Antonio Merlo, PhD as the 16th president in the University’s 133-year history. Merlo, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of New York University’s Faculty of Arts & Science, will succeed Interim President Denis P. O’Brien and begin his tenure at Drexel (Philadelphia, PA) on July 1, 2025.

“Dr. Merlo is the ideal leader to uphold Drexel’s values and guide the University into its next chapter,” said Richard Greenawalt, chair of Drexel’s Board of Trustees. “His commitment to academic entrepreneurship and his proven success in bringing together faculty, students, scholars, and practitioners to address critical societal challenges are particularly vital as we move forward with strategic institutional priorities, including an academic transformation already underway, and focus on building long-term financial resilience.”