Milo Riverso named 21st Manhattan College president

Milo Riverso is returning to Manhattan College to be the institution’s 21st president. Being part of the Manhattan Jaspers’ family runs strong in Riverso’s family, whose siblings studied at the Catholic liberal arts institution, as did his father. Soon, his son will be a Jasper as well.

Riverso, a civil engineering major from the class of 1981, earned a doctorate in civil engineering and a Master of Science in civil engineering from Purdue University — known for its STEM program.

When he left Manhattan College — he did not really leave. In 1989, he taught graduate students as an adjunct professor in the college’s civil engineering master’s degree program for several years.

The new president has served on the civil engineering curriculum review committee for 25 years and the facility and development committees since 1999. He also served as president of the Jaspers mentor program.

“Manhattan College conducted a nearly four-month presidential search that attracted a diverse slate of candidates from across the country with a variety of backgrounds,” a news release stated.

The search committee was made up of ten people including trustees, faculty, and administrators who engaged in the college community.

“I have a deep love for this institution and a strong commitment to its mission,” Riverso said.

“I look forward to working with the college’s talented faculty, staff, and students to build on its success and prepare graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings.”

Riverso  believes in fundraising for the school that gave him so much. For 15 years, he served as the chair of the annual construction industry golf outings in Eastchester. In 2018 the committee made a bold initiative — to raise $1 million for the next decade to develop and construct a state-of-the-art structure lab to allow students hands-on engineering projects in structural design and analysis.

Riverso was president and chief executive of STV Group for nine years — an engineering, construction management, and architectural firm. He oversaw many projects, such as the Freedom Tower, the 9/11 memorial, and its museum. And his firm was the construction manager for the $8 billion effort to transform LaGuardia  Airport into a new state-of-the-art building.

He replaces Brother Daniel Gardner, who was elected as interim president last July. Gardner is not going anywhere. He will stay at Manhattan College as the new executive director of campus ministry and social action.