Published: March 11, 2010

Merrimack College Names New President After In-Depth Search

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NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Merrimack College, Chairman Dr. Laurence M. Demers has recently announced the selection of Christopher Hopey, Ph.D. as the next president of Merrimack College. He will start the position on July 1, 2010.

The selection of Dr. Hopey to lead Merrimack College comes as a result of a long and thorough national search by the College's Presidential Search Committee and the nomination of a final list of candidates by the Prior Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine, the Very Rev. Don Reilly, O.S.A. from Villanova University. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select Dr. Hopey at their meeting on March 5, 2010.

Dr. Hopey comes to Merrimack College with considerable leadership experience in higher education having served as vice president and dean of Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies, as well as vice dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Described as a collaborative leader in higher education, his strategic planning has led to the success of several programs both at Northeastern and the University of Pennsylvania. His experience in faculty affairs, academic planning, enrollment management and fund-raising will position Merrimack to advance its purpose as a highly competitive Catholic college in the Northeast.

Dr. Hopey has a Ph.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.P.A. and B.S. in political science from Northeastern University.

"I am convinced that Dr. Hopey's energy, leadership skills, and demonstrated expertise in higher education will enable Merrimack College to advance its academic programs to a higher level of excellence and achievement," said Dr. Laurence Demers, chairman of Merrimack's Board of Trustees. "He will provide the necessary leadership for our long range strategic planning to position the College for growth and development as we enter a decade of increasing competitiveness for the most talented students in New England and beyond."

"I am honored to be selected as the eighth President of Merrimack College," said Dr. Hopey. "Merrimack's history as an Augustinian institution of higher education, its position as a leading Northeast Catholic liberal arts college, the academic excellence of its faculty and Merrimack's thriving student and alumni communities make the College well positioned for future growth with academic excellence and distinction."

Since July 1, 2008, Dr. Ronald Champagne has served as the president of Merrimack College for a two-year term while the College established a search committee for a long term president. According to Dr. Champagne, "Dr. Hopey is clearly the best suited individual to fulfill the College's mission to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower the lives of our students."

Dr. Demers thanked Dr. Champagne for his leadership over the past two years, saying, "His professional contribution to the school in the past two years has been exemplary and we are indebted to his service as an able college administrator."

More on Dr. Christopher Hopey

Dr. Hopey is an experienced higher education senior executive with a strong academic and entrepreneurial background, offering 22 years of comprehensive leadership experience within very complex research universities. His academic management expertise includes undergraduate and graduate education; distance learning and continuing education; alumni affairs and fundraising; admissions; recruitment and enrollment planning; academic program development and accreditation; academic leadership; faculty recruitment and governance; off-campus programming; and academic and student support services.

Dr. Hopey also has an extensive background in federally funded research administration and contracting, having been the proposal author and co-principal investigator for dozens of major federal, state and private grants and corporate contracts securing millions in funding. He has also developed and managed self-supporting multi-million dollar restricted and unrestricted budgets; provided strategic, financial and operational management over a diverse set of academic schools, centers and administrative units; and has expertise with the design, collaborative development and implementation of long-term and operational strategic plans.

His research focus has been in adult learning and higher education. He is the author of numerous journal articles and a frequent speaker at national conferences. Prior to joining Northeastern, Dr. Hopey was Vice Dean at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's and master's degree from Northeastern University.

Dr. Hopey's full CV can be found at http://www.merrimack.edu/about/leadership/PresidentialSearch/Pages/default.aspx

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