Fernando Delgado is the fourth president of Lehman College. Since his appointment, the College has expanded its academic footprint with its School of Business, new doctoral degree programs, and a focus on experiential education.

With more than 20 years of experience in public higher education administration, Delgado continues to publish and present his research, which centers on questions of Latinx identity and popular culture, the role of sport in society, and theoretical approaches to intercultural communication.

Prior to joining Lehman, he served as executive vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Delgado holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, San José and master's and doctoral degrees in communication studies from the University of Iowa.

Appointed as Lehman College's third president in 2016, José Luis Cruz supported the development of data-driven systems to improve administrative efficiency, improve student retention and success, and increase graduation rates.

Prior to his Lehman tenure, he served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at California State University, Fullerton; and vice president for Student Affairs of the University of Puerto Rico system.

Cruz earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and his master’s and doctorate from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

With 26 years of service, Ricardo Fernández remains the longest serving president of any CUNY college. During his tenure, Lehman experienced significant growth: new undergraduate, graduate, study abroad, and honors programs; increased community outreach initiatives; and an expanded physical campus—including the Rafael Viñoly-designed APEX athletic facility, Science Hall, an information technology center, and a state-of-the-art multimedia center.

Fernández earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in philosophy and Spanish literature from Marquette University and a master's and doctoral degree in Romance languages from Princeton University.

The founding president of Lehman College, Leonard A. Lief (1924-2007) guided its evolution from a satellite campus of Hunter College to a self-sufficient, competitive liberal arts institution. Over the course of his presidency, Lehman College built its renowned Center for the Performing Arts, a new library, Carman Hall, and the art gallery.

Prior to his appointment as Lehman's president, Lief served as a faculty member and later provost of Hunter's Bronx campus. He earned a bachelor's degree in English and philosophy at New York University on the G. I. Bill, a master's degree at Columbia University, and a doctorate of English at Syracuse University.