February 10, 2022 — Fordham University has named Tania Tetlow, J.D., its 33rd president. Tetlow will be the first layperson and the first woman to occupy the post in Fordham’s 181-year history. She will take office on July 1, 2022.
Tetlow comes to Fordham from Loyola University New Orleans, where she has served as president since August 2018. She was also the first female and lay president of Loyola New Orleans. She received her law degree from Harvard Law School and her bachelor’s degree in American studies from Tulane University. Among her other honors, she was a Harry S. Truman Scholar. Prior to being named president of Loyola, she held the office of senior vice president and chief of staff at Tulane University from 2015 to 2018. She also served at Tulane as associate provost for international affairs, the Felder-Fayard Professor of Law and director of Tulane’s domestic violence clinic.
In 2019, she was a guest on our AMDG podcast, where she talked about her trailblazing career. Tetlow also answered some rapid-fire questions about herself, which you can read below.
What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Unprompted I love yous from my [teenage] stepson.
Your favorite saint?
Teresa of Avila.
Your first job?
Working for Lindy Boggs.
Two weeks in Paris or 10 minutes on the moon?
The moon.
Your least favorite chore?
Putting the trash cans out because I always forget.
If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be?
24-hour cable news.
Your favorite sound?
My daughter’s laughter.
Your favorite hymn?
Ode to Joy.
Your favorite zoo animal?
The Orangutan.
What super power would you most want to have?
I talked about this at great length with my [child] but we decided teleporting anywhere.
What’s the best thing you cook?
Gumbo.
If you were ruler of your own country, what would be the first law you would introduce?
Creating a child protective system.
What current or past music group would you most want to join?
To be the backup singer for Aretha.
What is one thing you will never do again?
So many things, but nothing I want to say publicly.
You have the chance to meet Pope Francis one-on-one but you only get one sentence. What do you say?
If I had longer I’d spend it all thanking him, but if I had one sentence it would be the following run-on sentence: Please remember the women; Jesus did so much to include both halves of humanity at a time when that was radical, preaching outside of the synagogue so women could hear, choosing them to first reveal himself after his resurrection; the church should not let him down.
What could you give a 45-minute presentation on with no preparation?
As a lawyer I can talk about most subjects endlessly, but domestic violence and child abuse are the root of most violent crime.
What’s one thing you want to try you haven’t gotten around to yet?
I oddly really want to go on Fresh Air Podcast.
What dumb accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’m an epic parallel parker.
What makes you feel alive?
Singing opera.