PETER A. EDEN NAMED 7th PRESIDENT OF FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY

Dr. Peter A. Eden, currently the President of Landmark College, has been named the 7th President of Franklin Pierce University following a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Eden will officially assume his new role on July 15.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Peter Eden as the next President of Franklin Pierce University,” stated Steve Duprey, Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. “Dr. Eden's remarkable track record of innovative leadership in higher education and his dedication to enhancing academic programs and financial stability make him uniquely qualified to lead Franklin Pierce. We are confident that under his leadership, the University will achieve new heights of success.”

Since becoming President of Landmark College in 2011, Dr. Eden has led a significant revitalization of the institution. His tenure has been characterized by the introduction of new degree programs and a graduate-level online certificate program, along with diversifying revenue streams, all in line with the college’s mission to serve college-capable students with learning differences. Dr. Eden was instrumental in creating LC Online, a scalable educational platform reaching students nationwide. Under his leadership, the college’s endowment has doubled, ensuring robust financial health and enabling the institution to successfully navigate demographic shifts and budgetary challenges through strategic investments in its people and programs. Successful fundraising efforts under Dr. Eden have included capital campaigns to build the Nicole Goodner MacFarlane Science, Technology & Innovation Center; the turf Charles Drake Field for soccer and lacrosse; and a new facilities complex. Additionally, his dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion led to the creation of the Centers for Diversity and Inclusion, significantly enhancing the college’s community and culture, and strengthening enrollment. He also prioritized opportunities for student-athletes by elevating and supporting the sports programs at Landmark. An athlete himself, Dr. Eden plays in several adult ice hockey leagues in Keene and is involved in other local athletics programs through his children.

“I am genuinely honored and excited to join the Franklin Pierce University community, and my family feels the same way,” said Dr. Eden. “This opportunity is compelling, as Pierce has all the pieces for success in a challenging higher education industry, including a beautiful New England campus, Academic Centers with programs based in the growing allied health fields, online learning platforms, a reputation as a Division II athletics powerhouse, personalized academic pathways leading to careers, and dedicated faculty and staff.”

“Building on the hard work of others, we must increasingly engage Ravens alumni; raise significant funds to improve the campus, invest in our human capital; stay abreast of ever-changing priorities and needs of current and future undergraduate and graduate students; and find effective ways to reach and attract prospective students outside of this region,” added Eden. “At Landmark College, we are a truly close-knit community with a personalized approach to everything, including access to me and my office.  Therefore, I am looking forward to a very close relationship with all members of the Pierce community, as we take risks and intentionally adapt in ways that deliver student success, however defined and measured.”

Prior to his time at Landmark, Dr. Eden served in several key roles, including as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Endicott College and as a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Science Department at Marywood University. His rich academic career is supplemented by his research contributions, having secured funding from prominent institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Eden is also a prolific writer, having published numerous articles in the fields of science and education.

Dr. Eden's academic journey began at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He went on to complete his Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire and his post-doctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in microbiology, molecular biology, and neurobiology. His early career includes impactful roles such as a molecular biologist and later as a research project director at Biomeasure, Inc. (Beaufour-IPSEN), in Milford, Massachusetts, and Paris, France. Dr. Eden and his wife, Joanne, a nurse anesthetist at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, are the parents of three children, Atticus, Dexter, and Vivienne.

President Kim Mooney ’83 will retire on June 30 after serving eight years as the institution’s leader. A former Trustee who has previously served as the University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mooney is also the first Franklin Pierce alumna to serve as the University’s President.

Peter A. Eden, Ph.D., was named the President of Franklin Pierce University in May 2024, officially assuming the role on July 15. President Eden previously served as President of Landmark College in Putney, Vermont since 2011.

While at Landmark, he led a turnaround effort at the young college, which serves only college-capable students with learning differences. With a background in biomedical science, research, teaching, and scholarship, Dr. Eden oversaw an era of growth, with the development of innovative undergraduate and graduate academic programs. In addition, he spearheaded the college’s first baccalaureate programs and other initiatives to diversify revenue streams—all in alignment with the college’s core mission. President Eden was instrumental in creating LC Online, a scalable educational platform that serves neurodivergent students across the world and educational professionals at the graduate level. Under his stewardship, the college's endowment has more than doubled to $35 million, and Landmark has maintained strong financial health, successfully navigating demographic shifts and budgetary challenges by strategically investing in its people and programs.

Successful fundraising efforts under Dr. Eden included capital campaigns to build the Nicole Goodner MacFarlane Science, Technology & Innovation Center; the turf Charles Drake Field for soccer and lacrosse; and a new facilities complex. Recently, President Eden led efforts to complete a $12 million comprehensive campaign to support the endowment, student scholarships, and strategic initiatives like LC Online and career readiness/internships. Additionally, his dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion led to the creation of the Centers for Diversity and Inclusion, significantly enhancing the college’s community and culture, and strengthening enrollment. President Eden also prioritized opportunities for student-athletes by elevating and supporting the sports programs at Landmark. An athlete himself, Dr. Eden plays in several adult ice hockey leagues in Keene. Dr. Eden’s efforts have not only future-proofed the financial, student life, and academic framework of Landmark College, but have also helped to establish a successful brand for the institution.

Prior to joining Landmark College, Dr. Eden served as dean of arts and sciences and professor of biotechnology at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was previously a tenured associate professor and chair of the science department at Marywood University in Dunmore, Pennsylvania. He was also a research fellow at the Jackson Laboratory and a visiting professor at the College of the Atlantic, both in Bar Harbor, Maine. Before transitioning to higher education, President Eden worked in the biopharmaceutical industry at Biomeasure, Inc. (IPSEN) in Milford, Massachusetts, and Paris, France, initially as a molecular biologist, then advancing to research project director.

Dr. Eden earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire, and conducted his post-doctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in microbiology, molecular biology, and cellular neurobiology, respectively.

He has published numerous articles and received research funding grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). President Eden continues to directly contribute to grant proposal creation at Landmark and was the author of a recent $1 million award to support scholarships for LC Online students.

Dr. Eden and his wife, Joanne, a nurse anesthetist at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, are the parents of three children, Atticus, Dexter, and Vivienne.

Recorded on his first day in office, President Eden extends his heartfelt greetings to the entire Raven Nation. Join us in welcoming him as he expresses his excitement and gratitude for becoming a part of our vibrant community.

By Ashley Saari, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

New Franklin Pierce University President Peter Eden said the campus is ripe for evolution as he took the reins at the university last week.

Eden took over from former President Kim Mooney, who retired from the position at the end of June. Eden, who most recently served as president of Landmark College in Vermont, said he was attracted to the larger, but still-intimate campus, the university’s Division II athletics and its emphasis on science and health profession programs – but also that “it has all the pieces” to evolve.

“It has all the pieces we need to continue to stabilize the campus to make it even stronger as a safe, inclusive environment with a personalized approach to learning and living, while we continue to invest in online and academic centers across the U.S.,” Eden said.

Eden, originally from Massachusetts, said his educational background lies in molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and biotechnology. He spent the first part of his career in the biopharmaceutical field, working for a biotech firm as a research director.

“It was wonderful at the time, but I realized that I wanted to be in an environment where I could help young people, and I wanted to teach,” Eden said.

He made what he said many around him called a “radical move” by taking a second post-doctoral appointment teaching a course at the College of the Atlantic to gain some experience and moving into the academic field.

“I can’t believe I had the courage to do it, but it was the best thing I ever did,” Eden said.

Eden said he cut his teeth in administration as a science department chair, where he was part of developing new academic programs and saw the direct benefits he could have on students. He said it was his first experience with administration, and he knew that he wanted to grow in that area. He later became the dean of arts and sciences at Endicott College before becoming the president at Landmark.

Now, he said he’s ready for a new challenge with Franklin Pierce. He said the university’s work in the science and health professions was one of the attractions, given his own work history.

“That fits my background. I feel as though I can contribute,” Eden said.

Eden said the campus’s early investment in online programming and opening academic centers around the country, where many small-to-midsize institutions struggle to attract students because of their populations and older-leaning demographics, is a boon.

He was also attracted to the culture of the college.

“The thing that we do well is a genuine community – this sounds trite, but it’s true – of people that want students to succeed,” Eden said. “I really see that here.”

That extends beyond the campus, with multiple partnerships between the university and Jaffrey and Rindge, including volunteerism within the community and professional partnerships such as with the Jaffrey-Rindge School District, which hosts the educational program’s student-teacher program and even some classes on campus. Eden said he’d like to see those opportunities grow.

“Relationships are all that matter, in any walk of life. Making sure that we maintain the relationships with people in the community -- this institution is not going to change in that regard,” Eden said. “We would love to expand some of the partnerships we have with others in this area and the Keene area. It's all about gaining experience. We will not be going backward in that area; we will grow them, hopefully. We are a very important part of the community and we want to give more than we take from the community. We're partners.”

Eden said when he was hired at Landmark 13 years ago, it was because they were struggling financially and looking to make major changes. He said within a year after his hiring, the college had pivoted from a two-year to four-year institution, started and then expanded online programs. He later led major campaigns to raise funds for a new STEM building and athletics field.

At Franklin Pierce, Eden said the university needs leadership that can balance the financial challenges facing all small New England colleges, and polishing and promoting some of its existing features – particularly its health profession programming. Part of that, he said, will be addressing marketing and advertising.

“We know we have good programs and offerings. We don’t know whether enough people hear of them,” Eden said.

While Eden said it will be an ongoing conversation with the college’s board of trustees, he also anticipates the university will be launching a fundraising campaign. He said he envisions a comprehensive campaign to address physical enhancements, facilities improvements, student scholarships and program expansion, along with growing the college’s endowment.

“We’re ready for it,” Eden said, of a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

As we mark one month since Dr. Peter Eden officially became the 7th President of Franklin Pierce University, we're excited to share a special video, "7 Questions for the 7th President." In this video, President Eden answers questions about his vision and experience, and how they will shape our work.

We invite you to take a few minutes to hear directly from President Eden to gain insight into his past experiences, and his thoughts on the future of Franklin Pierce under his leadership.