Alverno names new president
Seton Hall official will replace Sister Joel Read
The executive vice president for administration at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. will become the new president of Alverno College in Milwaukee.
Mary Meehan, Ph.D., will take office at Alverno in the spring, with Sister Kathleen O’Brien, Ph.D. assuming the role of interim president until that time. O’Brien is currently the college’s vice president for academic affairs.
Meehan had served as the VP and assistant to the president for five years at Seton Hall University, an independent Catholic university, before being promoted to the position of executive vice president.
In her current capacity, she has been responsible for advancement, alumni affairs, compliance, enrollment services, finance, human resources, information technology, legal affairs, marketing, physical plant, public relations and student affairs.
While at Seton Hall, Meehan built a top-rated administrative leadership team; led the school to completion of its second five-year strategic plan; designed a one-stop service program for admissions, financial aid and the registrar; and implemented a comprehensive university-wide compliance system.
Fiscally, she has streamlined the university’s receivables, improving its bond ratings substantially. Meehan also led the university through the recovery process after a devastating campus fire in 2000.
Meehan helped pave the way for the opening of a nationally recognized School of Diplomacy entirely through operating surplus.
Meehan earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology, her master of arts in rehabilitation counseling and her doctorate in higher education administration from Seton Hall University. She also earned a master of science in health policy and management from New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y. She is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the American Association of Higher Education, and numerous boards and committees.
Prior to her role with Seton Hall, Meehan spent the majority of her career in health care. She began as a rehabilitation counselor and quickly advanced to chief executive officer in the mental health field, serving at a variety of hospitals and clinics on the East Coast. She served as COO of St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, N.J., a 251-bed acute care community hospital specializing in mental health care, and CEO of St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Harrison, N.Y.
"Alverno is extremely fortunate; Milwaukee will soon see the powerful leadership this community has just gained in Mary," said board of trustees Chairman Gary Grunau. "She is dynamic, insightful, highly intelligent and one of the most genuinely caring people I have met. Mary is simply second to none in the skills and experience she brings to the table," he said.
Sister Barbara Kraemer, provincial coordinator for the School Sisters of St. Francis, the founding order of Alverno College, said, "We look forward to the opportunity to join with Dr. Meehan and the faculty and staff as they continue to create a strong community of learning for women. Also, we express our gratitude to Sister Kathleen O’Brien for her willingness to serve as interim president."
Meehan said she is eager to begin her role as Alverno’s next president.
"I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity," says Meehan. "I first learned of Alverno as a doctoral candidate while studying model educational assessment programs. Sister Joel Read has clearly led Alverno College to national prominence with her extraordinary vision and leadership, and I am ready to ensure that the reputation of this top-ranked college continues to grow even stronger."
Aug. 22, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
