Boston College's former Academic Vice President, Jack Neuhauser, has been named president of St. Michael's College, a position he will assume July 1. Neuhauser served for five years on St. Michael's board of trustees, in addition to 21 years as Dean of the Carroll School of Management and five years as AVP.
"He is a very kind man who brings the important aspects of having experience as an academic administrator and familiarity with St. Michael's," said Dr. Marc vanderHeyden, outgoing president of St. Michael's. "He knows the people, the institution, and the culture - it was like finding an in-house candidate."
Before stepping down from AVP in 2005, Neuhauser saw BC reach many milestones, including the 20,000-application marker, achievement of a permanent spot in U.S. News & World Report's top 40 national universities ranking, and the University's first Rhodes Scholars. He also strengthened BC's financial aid offerings, as the University became one of 30 institutes of higher education to meet the full financial need of its accepted students. Neuhauser also saw the University reach a record-high level in external funding for research, totaling $42.2 million in 2004.
As Dean of CSOM, a position he held from 1977 until 1999, Neuhauser elevated the business program to hold a top-40 nationwide ranking. He also worked to incorporate ethical management and behavior programs into the curriculum in addition to introducing several dual-degree graduate programs.
"As AVP at Boston College, and now as president of St. Michael's College, Jack knows that to build a great college or university you have to hire great faculty, whose teaching and research will attract great students," Pat DeLeeuw, vice provost for faculties, said in an e-mail. "Then you have to try to make your college or university the kind of place where faculty, staff, and students can do their best work. By working with the deans, that's what Jack did here, and I'm sure that he will do it at St. Michael's as well."
DeLeeuw, who worked with Neuhauser during his tenure as AVP, said Neuhauser's vision and ability to incorporate the ideas of others were among his greatest assets. "Jack is quiet and unassuming, and a good listener. He is often the last to speak at a meeting, but usually says what others wished they had," she said.
St. Michael's College is a Catholic liberal arts college of 2,000 students located near Burlington, Vt. As an institution that requires its students to live on campus all four years, the college prides itself on its sense of scholarship and community.
"Residential life is extremely important," said vanderHeyden, who served as president for 11 years. "We are focused on undergraduate education and enforcing the quality of the liberal arts, making the academic demeanor of the school more pronounced." Like BC, St. Michael's strives to adhere to its Catholic roots in addition to dedicating itself to higher learning.
"St. Michael's has very much a community atmosphere," said Joseph Garrity, chairman of the board of trustees. "We are like a big, welcoming family. The faculty members are engaged in teaching and guiding students outside the classroom. Everyone cares and is well connected."
Despite its small size, St. Michael's boasts a student body in which 79 percent come from outside of Vermont and represent 33 different states. It is included on the list of the Best 361 Colleges, according to the Princeton Review, and hosts a chapter of the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. The college has also produced a Rhodes Scholar and a Pickering Fellow.
"In the last years we have made significant progress in building the reputation and academic profile of St. Michael's," said Garrity. "We hope that Neuhauser will be able to continue building on the momentum of the previous president."
"We have gotten new housing and new buildings," said vanderHeyden, "but that's not as critical as the fact that the institution has gotten better. We have great students of whom I'm very proud. I hope the school will continue to grow in quality and maintain its high standards of academics."
"In Jack the trustees of St. Michael's have found the perfect president," said Frank Campanella, a professor in CSOM, who started his work at BC with Neuhauser. "His many years as Dean of the Carroll School followed by his role as chief academic officer of Boston College and his trusteeship at St. Michael's place Jack in the unique position of knowing the job but also of knowing how to go about it. His clear bias for the liberal arts will also serve him very well as president there."
While St. Michael's presents a different set of challenges from those apparent at BC, Neuhauser's colleagues believe he has the know-how to handle any situation that might arise. "His greatest strength, I think, is that he understands the big challenges and opportunities that confront an institution - what we typically call 'the big picture' - while maintaining his personal concern for every individual member of the community, no matter their place on the organization chart," said DeLeeuw.
As a regional college, St. Michael's biggest challenge in coming years, said to Garrity, will be to continue to draw students given the age demographics. After the surge of 18-year-olds, which will peak in the near future, regional colleges like St. Michael's will be harder-pressed to find incoming students. "It's a challenge that will face all small schools in the region," said Garrity. "But when you look at Neuhauser's track record, he is someone who has demonstrated leadership in Catholic higher education and he will be great for the job."
The Presidential Search Committee, of which Garrity is the chairman, started with over 70 possible candidates and eventually whittled that number down to three finalists. Neuhauser was ultimately selected based on his familiarity with the college and his outstanding reputation at BC.
"He brings with him a great decision-making ability from his time as Dean and AVP," said Campanella. "He also has a warmth that he extends to students that will serve him well."
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