Suffolk University Acting President Marisa Kelly has been elected the University’s 11th president by the board of trustees, the university announced last week. Her selection follows broad community input and an extensive search that attracted numerous highly qualified and experienced domestic and international candidates.
First as provost starting in 2014, then as acting president over the past 20 months, Kelly has focused the University on strategic initiatives that are elevating its academic quality and programs, enhancing its reputation and global reach, dramatically boosting fundraising results and advancing enrollment efforts.
“Marisa Kelly is a gifted leader with a passion for this institution and its mission,” said Bob Lamb, chair of the Suffolk University Board of Trustees. “Now more than ever, Suffolk’s critical mission to empower students to achieve their hopes and dreams requires a special steward — someone who believes in the potential of our students and the dedication of our faculty and staff in supporting them.”
Kelly has been a resolute and outspoken voice for Suffolk’s longstanding commitment to inclusivity. As a result, those values are increasingly seen as a hallmark of a Suffolk education. She has been a champion for students and the support they need for success — from academic instruction to advising; counseling, health and wellness; career development; and international student services. And she is engaging and re-engaging members of the Suffolk alumni community in the life of the University.
“I believe deeply in this institution because Suffolk is a place where the combination of personal attention that we give to our students and the access to real-world experience that our location affords is absolutely transformational. That combination is really synonymous with Suffolk University,” said Kelly. “It is a great honor to be leading an institution where the faculty and staff see the promise in each student, and I am proud to be part of a community that is so focused on that mission.”
