Personal Statement

I collaborate with leaders and policy-makers to strengthen governance and develop innovative programs that build institutional vitality and advance student success.

Biography

Mary B. Marcy is President Emerita of Dominican University of California where she established innovative programs and partnerships to position students for success and sustained civic engagement in the 21st century. At the conclusion of her decade as president, Dominican received the American Council on Education/Fidelity Investment's Institutional Award for Transformation, and Marcy received the Washington Center's William Burke Presidential Leadership Award.  Under her leadership, Dominican became known for student civic engagement and student success, innovative curriculum changes, and creative collaborations. During her tenure, student graduation rates increased dramatically while simultaneously the student population moved from less than half to more than 65% students of color.

Marcy has published and presented extensively on issues of leadership and strategy in higher education.  Her nationally recognized research includes the recent book The Small College Imperative: Models for Sustainable Futures, which was recognized in Forbes as one of the top 10 higher education books of 2020.  Her writing and her work centers innovation and leadership in higher education. As demographic, financial and policy shifts have resulted in new challenges, she has worked closely with leaders to manage change, elevate student success, and reinforce shared governance. She is regularly quoted in the media related to her research and initiatives, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Times Higher Education, National Public Radio, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Inside Higher Education.

 In 2018 Marcy was a Visiting Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and in 2021-2022, she was President-in-Residence there.  Previously, she served as provost of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and vice president of Bard College. Born and raised in western Nebraska, Marcy received her Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Nebraska. She earned her doctorate and master's degrees in politics from the University of Oxford.