May 19, 2011
Contact: Karen Cooper (603) 897-8508
Sr. Paula Marie Buley, IHM appointed 12th President of Rivier College
The Rivier College Corporation and the Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM as the 12th President of Rivier College.Sister Paula Marie was unanimously selected following a national search conducted by Isaacson, Miller and the College’s presidential search committee comprised of Sisters, trustees, faculty, and staff. The search process began in October 2010 following the retirement announcement of President William Farrell after a decade of service.
According to Dr. Jamison Hoff, chair of the Rivier College Board of Trustees and chair of the presidential search committee, “Sr. Paula Marie is an inspirational leader with enormous energy, vision, talent, experience, and faith.In addition to superb communication, management, motivational, and organization skills, she is noted for her particular abilities to move people and programs to new levels of excellence.”
Sr. Paula Marie will begin her presidency in service to the Rivier community on August 1, 2011.When notified of her election, she shared that, “I am deeply honored by the opportunity to join the Rivier College community. I look forward to collaborating with trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the College in the development and implementation of an aspirational strategic plan.”
A member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA, Sister Paula Marie brings to Rivier more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education administration. Formerly Executive Vice President of Administration at Seton Hall University, she has served in senior roles at Anna Maria College,Mount St. Mary University and Immaculata University.She holds an Ed.D in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A.L.S. in Catholic Studies from Georgetown University, and an MBA from Villanova University.
Sister Paula Marie’s professional service has included extensive accreditation experiences and the implementation of comprehensive master plans and programs which support teaching and learning excellence. This mission resonates deeply with the mission of Catholic higher education, the value of the liberal arts, and the community of service engendered by programs of professional study. Sister Paula Marie’s research interests include issues of organizational governance and leadership in higher education.
“The history, vision, and mission of Rivier to ‘transform hearts and minds to serve the world’ resonates deeply with the mission of Catholic higher education, the value of the liberal arts, and the community of service engendered by programs of professional study,” says Sr. Paula Marie. “The influence of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary is reflected in the long-held standard of academic excellence and committed service to the Nashua community and beyond.”
“During a recent visit to our campus, Sr. Paula Marie consistently inspired and energized people, leaving colleagues motivated to reach even higher and further in their efforts for Rivier,” says Dr. Hoff. “I am convinced that our comprehensive work together as one community resulted in this excellent, exciting outcome, and that Sr. Paula Marie Buley will be an outstanding President of Rivier College.”