The announcement was made by Kevin W. Kennedy, chairman of the Board of Trustees, following the Board's March 6 meeting.
"At the time of his leave later this year, Gene Tobin will have completed his sixth year as Hamilton's president," Kennedy said. "We look forward to many more years of Gene's leadership. This leave will provide him with time to pursue some of his scholarly interests and to travel. He will also have time to reflect and to plan for the challenges that Hamilton will face in the years to come."
Tobin's last leave from the college was in 1985, while he was still a full-time member of the faculty. He has been part of the Hamilton administration since 1988, first as dean of the faculty for five years and then as president.
Kennedy said that since Tobin, 52, became Hamilton's 18th president in 1993, he has recommitted the college to academic rigor, undertaken a major review of the curriculum, presided over a strengthening of the academic profile of the student body, and implemented significant changes in Hamilton's residential environment at the direction of the trustees. He also successfully completed one capital campaign that raised $69 million and has begun a second campaign that has already secured $74 million toward its $83 million goal.
"Hamilton has become a measurably stronger college under Gene Tobin's leadership," Kennedy said. "We will look forward to his return."
A 1968 graduate of Rutgers University, Tobin received his master's degree in 1970 and his Ph.D. in 1972 from Brandeis University, both in the history of American civilization. Following a series of teaching appointments and a year as a National Endowment for the Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt University, he joined the Hamilton faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor. Promoted to associate professor in 1983 and professor in 1988, he served as chair of the Department of History from 1986 to 1988 and was director of the American studies program from 1983 to 1988. He was Hamilton's chief academic officer from 1988 to 1993.
Tobin is a scholar of recent American political history. He has authored or edited three books and dozens of essays and articles on the period from the Progressive Era through the Cold War, and he continues to teach an upper-level seminar each spring.
Schwarz, 54, is a senior partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York City. He joined Hamilton's Board of Trustees in 1987 and has served as chair of the Trustee Planning Committee and as a member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Finance Committee.
"Tom Schwarz has been a leader on our Board and actively involved in all major college issues since becoming a charter trustee," Kennedy said. "He constantly challenges all of us to make decisions that will distinguish Hamilton as an excellent college. Given his demonstrated interest in college administration, we are delighted that he is enthusiastic about serving as our acting president during Gene Tobin's sabbatical."
"I have worked closely with Tom for the past 11 years," Tobin said, "and I have been impressed with the unique insights his perspective brings to the issues we face as a college. Hamilton is fortunate that someone with his extraordinary concern and commitment will serve as acting president."
Stone Professor of Psychology Doug Weldon, coordinator of science curriculum and facilities at the college, says he has gotten to know Schwarz well as the two participated in a committee planning for an expansion of Hamilton's science facilities. "Tom Schwarz has always impressed me with the thought and care he brings to our discussions and the respect he has earned from the faculty with whom he has come in contact."
Schwarz has been an active public servant, having been elected to local public office, including mayor of the Village of Ocean Beach, N.Y. He was appointed to the Governor's Task Force on New York Business Corporation and as counsel to the Governor's Statewide Judicial Screening Committee. In 1987, he was selected as special counsel to the New York State Commission on Government Integrity, which investigated corruption in government throughout the state. His practice includes the representation of such public agencies as the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Long Island Power Authority, and foundations such as the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
In addition, Schwarz is a trustee for the Arts Connection, a non-profit organization that provides support for the arts in public schools, and is on the board of the Citizens Research Foundation at the University of Southern California, which studies money in politics. He is co-author of Federal Regulation of Campaign Finance and Political Activity, a treatise on campaign finance law, and has written articles on revising the presidential primary system and public financing of elections.
Schwarz received his degree in economics from Hamilton in 1966. He subsequently attended Fordham Law School, where he graduated second in his class and was an editor of the Fordham Law Review. In addition to his involvement in civic and public service organizations, Schwarz has
