Lorrie Clemo

The D'Youville College Board of Trustees has named Lorrie A. Clemo, as the 15th president of the private college.

Clemo will succeed Sister Denise A. Roche, a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, whose 37-year tenure ended with her retirement June 30, 2016.

Clemo, on leave from her role as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Oswego, is currently directing the First in the World Program, a $2.9 million grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education to increase degree completion among minority and low-income students.

"I am truly honored that the D'Youville Board of Trustees has placed its faith in the promise of my leadership," Clemo said.  "I am extremely fortunate to be inheriting a fabulous platform in which to begin the presidency.  I was very impressed with the caliber of faculty, staff, administrators and students that I met and look forward to meeting the alumni, donors, and community members who support this wonderful institution. I am very excited about the future."

"I was drawn to D'Youville because of its similarity with my own roots in Catholic education, and its mission and identity as a value-based and caring community, that offers a student-centered place of learning with deep connections to the community. I look forward to building on D'Youville's tradition of excellence and strong reputation as a driver of program innovation where students have a chance to explore ideas, themselves and the world.

"I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to be joining the ranks of D'Youville's dedicated leaders, most especially Sister Denise, known for tirelessly advancing the College's time-tested mission of offering students the tools necessary for a lifetime of learning, fulfillment and service as compassionate global citizens.

"Sister Denise was instrumental in the development of several new academic programs that have attracted a large number of students since their inception.  Some of these include pharmacy, physician assistant, occupational and physical therapy, health care management, dietetics and chiropractic. She has also overseen the physical expansion of the campus with more than $75 million invested in new buildings and renovations."

Born and raised outside of Syracuse, Clemo was the first in her family to attend college. Her father was a ticket agent for American Airlines, her mother a secretarial clerk at B.O.C.E.S. She attended Le Moyne College in Syracuse where she fell in love with the Jesuit institution's social justice ethos and developed a passion for public service. After earning her B.A. in Political Science in 1983, she spent a year as Program Director at the Bishop Foery Foundation with Catholic Charities in Syracuse, directing after school services for inner city youth before moving to SUNY Binghamton for graduate work in Political Science, Public Administration, and Policy Analysis.

At Binghamton University, she received her M.A. in 1987 and her Ph.D. in Political Science, Policy Analysis in 1988, writing her dissertation on the public education funding formula in New York State. After completing her Ph.D., Clemo accepted an appointment as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at SUNY Oswego, where she has spent her entire academic career.

"I am thrilled that Lorrie will be the next president of D'Youville. She is exceptionally well suited to lead the college into the future," said John P. Amershadian, chair of the D'Youville College Board of Trustees.  "We reviewed over 60 applications and interviewed nine people, with Lorrie having been our clear first choice."

At SUNY Oswego, Clemo was tenured and promoted in 1993, and took on administrative responsibility in 2000, serving for six years as Director of the Public Administration & Policy Program and for two years as Assistant to the President for Special Programs & Campus Communications. She spent a year as an American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Rochester and in 2008 became Chief of Staff & Deputy to the President. She was appointed interim Provost and VPAA in 2010 and named to the permanent role in 2012.

SUNY Oswego enrolls more than 8,000 students and offers more than 110 academic programs at the bachelor's and master's level while employing approximately 1200 full-time faculty and staff.

"Clemo is an excellent fit for D'Youville College," said William J. Mariani, Ed. D, D'Youville's interim president. "Her extensive experience in administrative leadership, research, academic program development and fundraising will assist the college and trustees in meeting the challenges facing our fine institution. I look forward to welcoming her to our college community and continuing to work closely with her to ensure a smooth transition as she prepares to assume the presidency."

Clemo led numerous increases in student learning and career opportunities, funding initiatives, faculty development, community service and other initiatives while at SUNY Oswego, resulting in:

·      an 87% growth in international student enrollments

·      increased student diversity and retention

·      a 54% increase in extramural funding since 2010

·      a 230%+ rise in STEM major research abroad opportunities

·      recognition on the U.S. University and College Presidents Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction

·      selection as Carnegie Community Engagement Classification

She also assisted with the development and led the execution of SUNY Oswego's strategic plan, positioning the college as a state and national leader, with numerous distinctions, improved sponsored program support, curriculum innovation, and better graduate success rates.

Her record of scholarship includes the presentation of more than 40 papers and publications, and 20 grants.

In her role as president of the NCAA Faculty Athletes Representatives Association, Clemo was involved in the development of the NCAA's strategic plan that led to academic reform in intercollegiate athletics and was instrumental in the development of the Division III Faculty Leadership Institute.

Clemo was on the D'Youville campus for a series of meetings and public forums on Sept. 26-27 during the presidential search process.

Her husband, Steven Nicolais is a pediatrician; the couple has four grown children; Charles a cardiology fellow at Temple University Hospital, Maria an internal medicine resident at University of Virginia, Adam an Attorney with Jones Day in New York City and Andrew a student at St. Lawrence University.

Clemo will be installed as D'Youville's 15th president in January 2017.