Touro Pays Tribute to Dr. Jay Sexter, Former CEO and Provost of TouroCOM and TCOP

In addressing the packed audience of over 100 friends and former colleagues, Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish said Dr. Sexter played a pivotal role in the development and success of Touro University and in the president’s transition from academic medicine to college president when he joined Touro in 2009 as provost and chief operating officer.

“He was a close confidant to our founder and my predecessor, Dr. Bernard Lander, and I also relied on Dr. Sexter’s counsel and effective leadership,” said the president, reflecting on his own transition to the role of president. “Much of Touro’s success relates to its health science schools, and Jay played an integral role in establishing every one of our five osteopathic schools and our bringing New York Medical College into the Touro family. His contribution to Touro’s success today is immeasurable.”

A Visionary

Dr. Sexter’s wife, Eva Spinelli-Sexter, who served as executive administrative dean and vice president of the New York School of Career and Applied Studies (NYSCAS) during her husband’s tenure, said her late husband was a visionary who wanted to target underserved and non-traditional students and engage parents in their children’s education.

“He never judged people based on their race, beliefs or economic background but rather for who they were as a person,” Spinelli-Sexter said. “He often reminded us that success comes from taking calculated risk and encouraged us to pursue ideas we believed in.”     

Others also commented on Dr. Sexter’s belief in the potential of all people and his efforts to create opportunities for people from all walks of life to improve their opportunities through education.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Sexter overcame challenges with dyslexia to complete his undergraduate education at the City College of New York. He obtained two master’s degrees, at Hunter College and the University of Southern California, and a doctorate in educational psychology at Fordham University.

Prior to joining Touro, Dr. Sexter served as president of Mercy College and held top leadership positions at Fordham University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. At the request of Dr. Lander, he came out of retirement to help develop Touro University California and its College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as programs in physical therapy, pharmacy and physical assistant. He then went to Nevada to develop Touro University Nevada and its College of Osteopathic Medicine, before returning to New York to initiate and help launch Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem, followed by TouroCOM in Middletown.

In their eulogies, speakers recalled Dr. Sexter’s entrepreneurship, creativity, integrity and determination to succeed.

“He possessed great wisdom. He was a visionary leader. His personality exuded courage, confidence, determination and intense passion. Jay was not afraid of any challenge,” said Dr. John McGrath, CEO and president of American Collegiate Acquisitions and Mildred Elley College in Manhattan and a close friend who worked with Dr. Sexter at Mercy College.

“Jay was extraordinarily kind. There was no better colleague or friend. A caring mentor and a confidant to so many. Jay was highly respected as an entrepreneurial leader” and “an intellectual who was full of common sense,” he said.

Dr. Jerry Cammarata, Ambassador to the United Nations for the World Safety Organization and formerly COO and dean of student affairs at TouroCOM Middletown, recalled being recruited by Dr. Sexter to join him in opening TouroCOM Harlem and Middletown.

“My life was transformed because I met Jay. My commitment to higher education was galvanized because I met Jay,” said Dr. Cammarata. “My heart and my mind were molded because of Jay’s wisdom and compassion and goal-driven examples of living life.”