Presidential Search

List of 3 items.

• Letter from the Board Chair

  Dear Members of the Xaverian Community,

   

  It is with mixed emotions that I have to report to you today that our beloved President, Robert Alesi, has decided to retire at the end of the 2026-27 school year. I have known Bob since he first walked the halls of Xaverian as a freshman in the fall of 1974, during my senior year.  The love and passionate gifts of his talent that Bob has given to Xaverian as a student, faculty member, coach, Principal, and, for the last 17 years, President, have left an indelible mark on Xaverian that will last for generations to come.  The current state of the school is strong spiritually, financially, and academically, with a wide breadth of extracurricular activities. This has been accomplished through Bob’s personal leadership and the strength of the administration, faculty, and staff that has been built up during his tenure as President. 

   

  Bro. Larry Harvey, my predecessor as Chair of the Board of Trustees and longtime friend and mentor to Bob, adds: “Bob has been a truly transformative leader for Xaverian who has worked collaboratively with faculty, staff, administration, and board members to enhance and rebuild almost every aspect of the school.  Systematically and strategically, he oversaw the enhancement and rebuilding of the school physically with the renovations and additions, programmatically with the introduction of co-education and strengthening of the Genesis program, and spiritually with the emphasis on Catholic and Xaverian identity.  He firmed up the foundation of the school first built by the Brothers and leaves a solid core for his successors to build upon.”

   

  Bro. Art Caliman, Xaverian Class of 1965 and former Xaverian Board Chair, has worked closely with Bob over the years since Bob became an administrator at Xaverian. He adds: “As Bro. Larry has described Bob’s tremendous contributions so well that I can only echo what he says and add that Bob’s accomplishments have also reflected his eagerness, willingness, and capabilities to grow in every dimension of servant leadership, even when he often credits others with his growth.  He is a true model of how the charism of the Xaverian Brothers continues to evolve as a living drive, not just a piece of our history.”

   

  There is no doubt that finding a replacement for Bob will be a challenging task.  However, with the prayers and support of the Xaverian community, the Board of Trustees and I will do our utmost to ensure that the charism of the Brothers and the Xaverian culture that has been nurtured through Bob’s leadership will continue seamlessly into the future.  We have formed a search committee, with current Board member and head of the Education committee Frank Espinosa as Chair.  The Board, after interviewing an external search firm and Dr. Patrick Slattery (Executive Director of the XBSS Sponsorship Office), has decided to move forward with Dr. Patrick Slattery leading the search. Patrick has an extensive history in conducting successful searches, and we are confident that his network, both inside and outside the XBSS community, will provide us with a funnel of excellent candidates. The Board is also committed to maintaining open communication throughout this process and will provide the Xaverian community with regular updates as the search progresses.

   

  It is the Board’s intent to have a successor named for Bob’s position no later than the end of March 2027. This will ensure that there is adequate time for onboarding our new President so that the person chosen will be able to take over the helm of our beloved Clipper ship beginning July 1, 2027.  Assuming all goes well, we will be able to wish Bob smooth sailing on the next part of his life’s journey at roughly the same time as we will be celebrating the opening of the campus expansion which was heavily influenced by Bob’s vision and the current 5 year strategic plan for the school. 

   

  While Bob still has a lot of work ahead of him over the next year, I want to take this opportunity to thank him on behalf of the Xaverian community for his service to the school. We will have ample opportunity over the next year to formally say “thank you” to him before he retires.  Bob always reminds us “why” we do what we do; whether we are Board members, faculty, administrators, or school staff – it is always for the academic, personal, and spiritual development of our wonderful students whose parents have entrusted to Xaverian’s care.

  
  Please pray for all the members of the Xaverian community as we embark on this succession process.

   

  Peace,

  
  
  

  Bill Zucker ’75

  Chair, Xaverian Board of Trustees

• Search Committee

  Frank Espinosa
  Search committee chair, current board member, and Education Committee chair

  
  Phillip Rollock ’80
  Current board member, and incoming Vice-Chair 
   

  Megan Demonte P' 20 '22 '26
  Current board member and Parent
  
  

  Robert C. Golden ’09
  Current board member
  
  

  Reverend Father Michael Bruno S.T.D. ’03
  Trustee Emeritus*, and Current Pastor, St. Vincent Ferrer, East Flatbush, Associate Vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life, Censor Liborum
  
  

  Elizabeth Villani
  Faculty Member and Union Representative
  
  

  William Zucker ’75
  Current Board Member and Chair
  
  *Trustee Emeritus indicates former Board of Trustee member 

• Timeline

  Late June 2026: Leadership profile finalized using feedback from surveys and listening sessions.
  
  

  Summer–Early Fall 2026: Comprehensive local and national search conducted.
  
  

  Fall 2026: Multiple interview rounds held, including stakeholder engagement and opportunities for faculty and staff to meet finalists.
  
  

  By End of March 2027: New President identified and hired.
  
  

  July 1, 2027: New President begins role, following a transition period working closely with the President and the Administrative Team.