Siena Heights University announces Douglas B. Palmer as its next president
ADRIAN — Siena Heights University has found its next president.
Douglas B. Palmer, Ph.D. will become the 11th president of Siena Heights University effective July 1, 2023. SHU's board of trustees announced the appointment on Friday.
“Doug is a mission-driven inspiring leader who values teaching and learning with a strong commitment to academic excellence," Harry “Dusty” Steele, chairperson of SHU's board, said.
Palmer currently is president of Culver-Stockton College, a private, Christian college in Canton, Missouri. He will succeed Sister Peg Albert, who announced her intention to retire at the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year. Her last day as SHU's president will be June 30, completing her 17th year with SHU.
“I am so happy that we have a person of such great quality and vision to serve Siena Heights University in the years to come," Albert said in a news release. "Dr. Palmer will step into the presidency with confidence and experience to lead Siena Heights into the future. He is committed to ensuring that Siena Heights provides a world-class education and experiences to the students, faculty, staff, and the community that we serve. He will do a wonderful job.”
“I am honored to be entrusted by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and the Trustees of Siena Heights University to contribute to the mission of educating students to be competent, purposeful, and ethical," Palmer said in the release. "I’m especially inspired by Siena Heights’ commitment to access for all to higher education whether traditional students, working adults and online students. My family and I are all excited to become part of the Adrian and Siena Heights communities.”
Palmer and his wife, Cathy, are natives of Pittsburgh and have three boys, the release said. They will be moving to Michigan.
Palmer has been president at Culver-Stockton since July 2020. While there, SHU's news release said, the college has:
Achieved a 10% new student enrollment increase from 2020-22.
Developed a major gift to house the Tri-State Development Summit, a regional economic development initiative, at the college.
Launched the Pell Grant Promise program offering free tuition to local Pell Grant recipients.
Exceeded goals in giving, including new records for Day of Giving and overall gifts in 2022.
Established a new major in agricultural business management, including funding an endowed scholarship from a new donor.
Created and launched a new strategic plan for the college.
Promoted creation of first-year learning communities for all new students.
Added co-educational sports skeet and trap shooting.
Established the Great River Research Center, an interdisciplinary research center focused on economics, politics, and social and cultural life of the Upper Mississippi River region.
“Doug’s forward vision has advanced Culver-Stockton College and developed plans that will help the College for the future," Culver-Stockton board chairman Ron Leftwich said in a news release from C-SC.
SHU worked with the search firm Hyatt-Fennell to conduct a national search along with a search committee that included faculty, staff, students, members of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and members of the Siena Heights board of trustees.
“We Adrian Dominicans join the Siena Heights University community in delight that Dr. Palmer will be the institution’s next President,” Sister Elise D. García, prioress of the congregation, said in the release. “We believe he has the heart and spirit as well as the dynamic leadership qualities needed to guide Siena into a vibrant future for the good of its students, faculty and staff — and all the people they will serve as competent, purposeful and ethical women and men.”
Prior to being the president at Culver-Stockton, Palmer was the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. Walsh, like SHU, is a Catholic university.
Palmer, the release said, has a strong belief that a high-quality, private education should be accessible for all students. He was a non-traditional student himself, earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville following an enlistment as an active-duty paratrooper in the U.S. Army. He used the G.I. Bill to fund his undergraduate education and subsequently earned a full tuition scholarship to pursue graduate work in history at the University of Oregon. He completed his doctorate in history at Ohio State University where he won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the Netherlands. He was also awarded the Presidential Fellowship given to the 25 top dissertation writers in the university.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Siena Heights University names Douglas B. Palmer as its next president
