Tufts University Presidents and the Talloires Network

In September 2005, Tufts University convened the first international gathering of the heads of universities devoted to strengthening the civic roles and social responsibilities of higher education. The gathering was conceived by then Tufts President Lawrence S. Bacow and organized by the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts and Innovations in Civic Participation. Held in the village of Talloires, France, the 2005 conference brought together 29 university presidents, vice-chancellors, and rectors from 23 countries around the world. Since its inception, the Talloires Network has been governed by a Steering Committee of higher education leaders. Lawrence S. Bacow served as the first Steering Committee Chair from 2005 to 2011. Today, the Network is a growing global coalition of 400+ university presidents, vice-chancellors, and rectors in 85+ countries and the largest international network focused particularly on university civic engagement.

Tufts University President Anthony Monaco was elected to serve as the Talloires Network Steering Committee Chair in 2014 at the 2014 Talloires Network Leaders Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. During his eight-year tenure as Steering Committee Chair, Anthony Monaco put down a marker to change the global university ranking systems to include more elements of civic engagement, created an Engaged Membership system of shared ownership to sustain Network operations, and championed two global conferences. The 2017 Talloires Network Leaders Conference was hosted by Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico, and the 2021 Talloires Network Leaders Conference was jointly hosted by Tufts University and Harvard University.

The Talloires Network is honored to announce that Tufts University President Sunil Kumar has accepted the nomination to serve on the Steering Committee and will take his seat effective 1 January 2024. As a member of the Steering Committee, President Kumar will advise on strategic directions and program priorities for the Network and serve as an ambassador for the Network.

Read more about the history of the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities here.