Presidential Search

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The Board of Trustees of Mount Saint Mary College has announced the search for its next President and invites nominations and expressions of interest for the position.

The Presidential Transition Committee is seeking an innovative leader with a focus on financial leadership, sustainability, student success, enrollment management, increasing philanthropic support, and the ability to lead institutional change.

The committee seeks nominations and applications from leaders with experience in higher education, but also in other fields, including research, industry, government or other fields. A strong candidate will have experience and vision that align with the opportunities and challenges facing higher education and will be guided by the Dominican traditions of academic rigor, pursuit of truth, social justice, leadership, and service.

The President is Mount Saint Mary College’s chief executive officer and the chief ambassador of the College, reporting to the Board of Trustees. With a commitment to the process of shared governance, the President is responsible for strategic planning and management of the academic, personnel, fiscal, and student life policies and operations of the College. The President and the Board of Trustees advance the interests of Mount Saint Mary College by staying true to the College’s Catholic and Dominican mission and working effectively with faculty, administration and staff, students, alumni, local and regional community leaders, and donors. The new President will both honor the College’s traditions while also enhancing its visibility and strength in the Hudson Valley region and in the broader higher education landscape.

The Mount’s next President will embrace its mission to educate students with a curriculum based in the liberal arts and sciences and shaped by strong ethical values, while providing career preparation and co-curricular programming that meet the expectations of today’s students. Critical to the President’s success is a visible presence on the campus and in the community as a leader who exemplifies the College’s four pillars of Dominican life: study, community, service, and spirituality. 

Mount Saint Mary College is an independent, coeducational institution in the Catholic and Dominican traditions committed to providing students with a liberal arts education to prepare them for lives of leadership and service. Founded in 1959 by the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, their four pillars continue to be a blueprint for the Mount’s success.

Today, approximately 1,400 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students attend the Mount’s traditional and non-traditional academic offerings across the liberal arts and sciences as well as professional and pre-professional programs. The Mount’s mission “to create an environment which fosters close student-faculty interaction that enables students to reach their full potential as lifelong learners” ensures a transformational educational experience for its students and a commitment to the care of the whole person for every member of the Mount community.

The Mount’s scenic 60-acre campus overlooks the Hudson River in Newburgh, New York – a historic river city at the center of the Hudson Valley – less than an hour north of New York City and in very close proximity to Stewart International Airport. The Mount community is actively engaged in the City of Newburgh and is an important presence in the region.

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae or resume, and a list of professional references. All application materials should be submitted to MSMC.President@msmc.edu by December 15, 2026.

Additional information about Mount Saint Mary College and the opportunities for the next President can be found in the Presidential Search Booklet. 

Mount Saint Mary College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, disability, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Presidential transition committee members

  • Susan Wynne, Chair

  • Sister Catherine Walsh, OP, Co-Chair

  • Lou Bach, Board Chair

  • Suzanne Muschio, Committee Secretary

Board Members

  • Philip DeAngelo

  • James Dittbrenner

  • Jonathan Gatsik

  • Dr. Ann Marie Murray

Alternate Board Member

  • Ann Patsalos-Enriquez

Cabinet Members

  • Susan Shea, CFO

  • Kimberly Strano, VP for Enrollment

Faculty Members

  • Dr. Michael Fox, Acting Dean/School of Business

  • Dr. Rebecca Norman, Professor of Education

Alternate Faculty Member

  • Dr. Lynette DeBellis, Chair/School of Nursing

MSMC Employee

  • Ryan Williams, AVP for Institutional Research

Student

  • Heaven Troche, Nursing Student, Class of 2028

Community Member

  • Dr. Kent Trachte

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