Reflecting on 20 Years of Service to SNHU

After 20 of the best years of my professional and personal life, it’s time that I step down from my role as President of Southern New Hampshire University.

When I came to SNHU in 2003, I found a home. In this small New Hampshire campus, I found a rock-solid commitment to mission, a dedication to students, and a hunger to do more and be more. At the time, I never envisioned we’d be the university we are today, but I knew that at this university I would find purpose and joy.

Throughout my tenure, our students have always been an inspiration to me. One of my favorite moments each year is standing at the end of the clap line after Commencement and meeting students eager to tell their stories. Those are often stories of triumph over loss or illness or other obstacles. They are about making their kids proud or keeping a promise to a parent no longer with us. They are veterans, parents juggling work and family and study, and front-line workers seeking better work and careers. They include parents and children marching together, grandparents fulfilling a long-held dream, and graduates who were long told they couldn’t now proving to the world that they indeed could.

Our students have fueled my passion and love for this university, and one of my greatest joys over the last two decades has been seeing our students join the alumni community – which has grown by more than 200,000 graduates since 2003. Our alumni are diverse and accomplished, enriching the student experience in so many ways and building authentic connections amongst students, alumni, donors, faculty and staff, and community partners. I love seeing alumni reunite at Homecoming each year or make new connections at the regional events we’ve held around the country. It seems that no matter where I’m traveling, near or far, I meet someone with a connection to SNHU and a story about how their education has profoundly impacted their life.

During my time at SNHU, we have navigated a global pandemic, achieved unprecedented enrollment figures, ensured financial stability, and assembled a formidable team to carry this work forward. I am so excited for Lisa Marsh Ryerson, and for the entire community, as she steps into the role of President. Lisa and I (pictured above) have been professional colleagues for years, throughout her leadership roles at Wells College and the AARP Foundation. As a former SNHU Board member and our current University Provost, she knows our people, our systems, and our students, and she is a passionate educator to her core. There is so much to look forward to for SNHU, and I can’t wait to see how our students and alumni continue to make their impact.

I’ve always said I’d never work anywhere but SNHU, but I’m not well built for retirement. Starting July 1, I will embark on a sabbatical researching AI, human systems, and the future of higher education, and of course I’ll continue to be an ambassador for the university. As my wife, Pat, and I eagerly look forward to embracing the roles of grandparents, it’s even clearer to me that education is the most powerful tool we have for positive social change, and AI is a tool for improving education for all. I look forward to the work ahead and embracing new roles and opportunities, and I offer my profound gratitude to the SNHU community for these many years of partnership in our shared mission of empowering students to transform their lives.

Be well,
Paul