MANCHESTER, N.H., July 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Lisa Marsh Ryerson, a trusted leader with vast
experience in higher education and nonprofit management, began her
tenure today as the sixth president of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).
Ryerson, who previously served on the
SNHU Board of Trustees for six years before taking on the role of
university provost in 2022, succeeds Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc
who announced his decision to step down late last
year following 21 years of transformational leadership. The SNHU
Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Ryerson as president for a two-year term effective
today.
"Lisa Marsh Ryerson is a talented and proven leader who
embodies SNHU's mission to transform lives, and we are thrilled to
welcome her to her new role as SNHU president," said Winnie Lerner, Board Chair, SNHU Board of
Trustees. "SNHU is committed to ensuring that people can capitalize
on life-changing opportunities they otherwise may not be able to
access, and this important legacy will continue under Lisa's
leadership. Through her time on our board and as university
provost, Lisa has brought fresh thinking and shown her commitment
to SNHU, its people, students, and alumni. We know she will
continue to be a wonderful leader for SNHU and champion for higher
education."
Under Ryerson's leadership as provost, SNHU united campus
and online academic programs with student experience efforts,
including admission, advising, and student financial services, into
one team committed to the student academic experience. As provost,
Ryerson was responsible for SNHU's
offerings and the strategic direction of the overall student
experience. As the largest nonprofit provider of higher education,
SNHU serves more than 200,000 learners across the globe and offers
200+ programs, from certificates to doctoral-level degrees,
including business, education, liberal arts, social sciences and
STEM.
"As an educator to my core, I am proud to embark on this new and
exciting journey as president of SNHU after two remarkable
years serving as provost," Ryerson
said. "I believe that access to education and the attainment of a
credential are major social determinants of health, and I look
forward to continuing the university's work on behalf of our
learners across the globe while also advocating for the more than
40 million Americans with some college and no degree. I'm reminded
every day how lucky I am to work alongside the talented teams at
SNHU where decisions are made together in service of our students.
As a leader in innovation, we will continue to learn about emerging
technologies and harness them to ensure a frictionless, seamless,
and successful experience for our learners."
Prior to joining SNHU, Ryerson
served as president of the AARP Foundation, the charitable
affiliate of the AARP, for nearly nine years. In this role, she
spearheaded innovative partnerships with other organizations to
create and advance effective solutions that help vulnerable older
adults increase their economic opportunity and social
connectedness. During the last three-year plan under her
leadership, the foundation generated over $5
billion in income for older adults.
A lifelong learner and educator, Ryerson has taught middle
school and held numerous positions in higher education ranging from
admissions professional to president. From 1995-2013, Ryerson served as university president and CEO of
Wells College in Aurora, New York. Under Ryerson's leadership, Wells increased enrollment by 45%, launched an
endowed Center for Business and Entrepreneurship, and revitalized
the economy of the surrounding community. Lisa has also served on
boards of higher education and nonprofit organizations, including
the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities,
and the Congressional Hunger Center. She now serves on the boards
of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, the National Women's History
Museum and The Generosity Commission.
Ryerson is a first-generation
college graduate and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from
Wells College, and a Master of Science
in Education/Literacy from the State
University of New York Cortland, where she was also awarded
an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. She was also awarded an
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from SNHU, an Honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters from the State
University of New York at Albany for having "met and
exceeded each of John Quincy Adams'
standards for leadership," and an Honorary Doctor of Social
Services from Dickinson College.
Ryerson, a mother and grandmother,
lives in Manchester, NH, with her
husband George. To learn more about Ryerson, read her Q&A on the
SNHU website.
About Southern New Hampshire
University:
Southern New Hampshire University
(SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 91-year
history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.
Now serving more than 200,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers
approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and
certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus
in Manchester, NH. Recognized as
one of the "Most Innovative" regional universities by U.S. News
& World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in
the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality,
affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. Learn more
at www.snhu.edu.
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SOURCE Southern New Hampshire
University