Allegheny Names James H. Mullen Jr. As 21st President of the College

MEADVILLE, Pa., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- James H. Mullen Jr. was
named today the 21st president of Allegheny College. He will take office Aug.
1, 2008.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080220/DC14623 )

Mullen was elected unanimously by the Allegheny Board of Trustees on the
unanimous recommendation of the Presidential Search Committee, which conducted
a national search for a successor to Richard J. Cook, who is retiring after 12
years as president of Allegheny College.

"We are fortunate to have found a new president who has not only broad
experience in higher education but a proven track record in leadership roles,"
said Chris Nelson, chair of the board of trustees. "As president of Elms
College, as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and as
senior vice president of Trinity College, Dr. Mullen has earned accolades. His
is a remarkable record of leadership and service."

Mullen has held leadership roles in higher education for 20 years. "To hold
the presidency of Allegheny College is a rare privilege in American higher
education," he said. "Allegheny is a premier institution that is poised for
national pre-eminence. It will be a great honor to be part of shaping the next
chapter in its remarkable history. Mari and I are especially honored to follow
the wonderful tenure of Richard Cook and Terry Lahti, who have together built
such a powerful legacy of leadership and devotion to this college and its
surrounding community."

"Jim Mullen is a strong match with Allegheny," said Cook. "I am highly
enthusiastic about Dr. Mullen's appointment, and I look forward to working
with him closely during this time of transition."

At the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the designated liberal arts
campus of the UNC system, Mullen's work helped earn national attention for the
university's academic program and statewide praise for its commitment to
community. At Trinity College, in Hartford, Conn., Mullen was responsible for
Trinity's comprehensive master plan. He also oversaw a nearly $300 million
public/private partnership that revitalized the neighborhood surrounding
Trinity's campus.

An appreciation for the strength of the Allegheny community is something that
the Presidential Search Committee sought in a new president, says Tom
Slonaker, chair of the committee and a member of the college's board of
trustees.

"Our first step was to talk to as many elements of Allegheny's core
constituencies as we could," he said. "What we heard time and time again was
that the community -- both on campus, among alumni and in the surrounding area
-- wanted a president who could continue Dr. Cook's remarkable work in making
connections, building relationships and creating a sense of community. We
found that person in Dr. Mullen. Just as we try to make sure the students who
are accepted to Allegheny are a good fit for the institution, we worked hard
to make sure we found a president who is a good fit."

Slonaker led a committee that included trustees, alumni, faculty, staff and
students.

"Being on the search committee has been an incredible experience," said Jen
Wilmore, a senior from Solon, Ohio. "I realized early on that I couldn't judge
anyone based upon their responses to questions about endowment and shared
governance, but I could read their personalities and communication skills --
what I called their 'intangibles.' The intangibles are important because you
can't teach them. President Mullen has them. He models Allegheny's ethic of
hard work."

In addition to his leadership roles in college administration, Mullen was a
sought-after lecturer in Trinity College's public policy department, where his
work focused on the American presidency. He also held appointments as
professor of history at Elms College and as professor of political science at
UNC Asheville.

"Jim Mullen's personal and family values are very well aligned with the values
and ideals of American higher education," said Molly Corbett Broad,
president-elect of the American Council on Education, the nation's top
higher-education group, and president emerita of the University of North
Carolina. "His experience and his dedication to the service and scholarship of
faculty and students will serve Allegheny College very well for years to
come."

An avid proponent of community service, Mullen serves on various boards
including the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, the Western Massachusetts Economic
Development Council, the Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation, the
National Conference for Community and Justice of Western Massachusetts and the
Middlesex Community College Foundation.

He also serves on the Catholic Campus Ministry Association Development Council
and the President's Council of WGBY Television. He is a member of the
Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities of Massachusetts.

Mullen is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He
holds a master of public policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of
Government at Harvard University and a doctorate in higher education from the
University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He and his wife, Mari Elizabeth, have
two children, Franki and James.

"It has been particularly exciting for me to lead institutions at moments of
great energy and passion," said Mullen, "moments in which we at once
celebrated rich traditions and worked collegially to build new and innovative
opportunities to enhance our reputation. Allegheny has a singularly powerful
story to tell, and I will greatly enjoy the opportunity to share in telling
it."

A national liberal arts college where 2,100 students with unusual combinations
of interests, skills and talents excel.

SOURCE Allegheny College Office of Public Affairs

Barb Steadman or Kathy Roos of the Allegheny College Office of Public Affairs,
+1-814-332-6755, news@allegheny.edu