Presidential Transition at Franklin Pierce University
Aug 21, 2014
President James F. Birge announced today that he is resigning from his position at
Franklin Pierce University effective next year but no later than June 15, 2015, to
allow time for the Board of Trustees to work on the leadership transition. In his
sixth year as president, and with the average tenure for a college leader being seven
years, Birge and his family have decided it is time for new challenges.
“I am proud of the accomplishments at Franklin Pierce and excited about its future
because of these achievements,” Birge said. “As I reflected on these accomplishments
and we begin to establish and implement additional changes at the University, I realized
it is a good time to move on to allow new leadership to take on the new challenges.”
Michael C. J. Fallon, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, “It has been a pleasure
to work with someone as dedicated as President Birge. He has given not just a huge
amount of his time to the school but also has given his heart. We’ve experienced challenges
and have overcome them thanks to President Birge’s dedication, which I know has taken
him away from his family more than he planned.”
Among the accomplishments during President Birge’s tenure:
• A 40 percent increase in admission applications and an increase in class size
of 15 percent;
• An increase in student retention from 59 percent in 2009, when he arrived, to
67 percent last year;
• The opening of the Pappas Center for Health Sciences and Athletic Training;
• The launch of new academic programs, including a Master of Science in Nursing,
Master of Physician Assistant Studies, a Bachelor of Sciences in Integrated Studies,
an M.B.A. in Health Administration, a B.S. in Health Sciences, and the Business Plus
Program;
• President Birge also has led the university in addressing financial challenges
the past year and secured a customary line of credit from a new financial partner.
Dr. Birge is the fourth president of Franklin Pierce. Founder and first President
Frank DiPietro served 1962-75 followed by former New Hampshire Governor Walter Peterson,
1975-1995, and then Dr. George Hagerty, 1995-2009.
