Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D., has been named as the 10th president of St. Anselm College. He succeeds Fr. Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., who will retire in June after serving the Catholic, Benedictine Liberal Arts College for the past 24 years.
DiSalvo will resume his new duties beginning July 1. A non-Benedictine will lead the institution for the first time in the college's history.
His initial responsibilities will include launching a fundraising campaign that coincides with the college's 125th anniversary, increasing the enrolment percentage and maintaining the tuition rates to affordability levels.
Currently, he is the president of Marian University, Wisconsin, where he has been serving since 2010. At the same time, he is also working with lawmakers on legislation that will permit income-contingent student loan programs with payments based on salaries after college.
The university officials expressed faith in DiSalvo, saying that he brings in an abundance of experience that will help to advance the excellence of the college.
Prior to Marion,
- DiSalvo was the president and founder of The Hopewell Group Inc., which focuses on transfer of wealth for individuals, family foundations and corporations;
- he was executive director of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, which works to educate and end the cycle of domestic violence,
- he was chief operating officer of Junior Achievement of New York Inc., which offers business education through volunteer role models.
DiSalvo earned his bachelor's degree (psychology); master's degree (business in marketing) and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fordham University.
Plus, he is also known to have attended the Higher Education Institute for New Presidents at Harvard University.
"We are thrilled that Dr. DiSalvo has agreed to serve as the next president of Saint Anselm College," said Charles W. Pollard, chair of the Saint Anselm Board of Trustees and Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B., chancellor of the college.
"He brings the vision and experience that will serve the college well in this exciting and challenging time in higher education. He also has a demonstrated commitment to Catholic, liberal arts education and the Catholic faith, which is at the heart of our mission at Saint Anselm."
