University of New England

UNE names new president to begin July 2006

The University of New England has chosen an experienced university administrator, teacher and internationally known researcher to become its new president.

Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., of Charleston, South Carolina, will assume the UNE presidency in mid-summer, 2006. Ripich is currently the dean of the College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), where she is also a professor in the University’s College of Medicine, Department of Neurology. She is internationally known for her child language research.

Ripich will be UNE’s fifth president, replacing Sandra Featherman, Ph.D., who is stepping down after a successful 11-year tenure.

“We are delighted that Danielle Ripich is taking over the helm at the University of New England, especially at a time when UNE is poised to make even greater contributions to Maine, the region and to higher education across the nation,” noted Vincent E. Furey, Jr., chair of UNE’s board of trustees.

“Her credentials are a perfect match for us with significant teaching and administrative experience in the arts and sciences, the health professions and medicine, and an  international reputation for her scientific research,” Furey said.

“It took a very special opportunity to convince me to leave the Medical University of South Carolina,” said Ripich. “The University of New England is that very special institution. It plays a critical role in educating physicians, healthcare professionals, nurses and social workers to meet the needs of the state and the region. The University gives undergraduates excellent preparation in a number of disciplines as evidenced by its ranking in U.S. News & World Report. I am honored to have been asked to lead this impressive university, and look forward to working with the board, faculty, staff and students at the University, as well as the Biddeford and greater Portland communities.”

Background
Ripich is widely known for her work in child language, with an emphasis on the hearing impaired, and with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. She has written extensively in her field, including several book chapters and manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and has served as an editorial consultant to several medical journals.

Before becoming dean at MUSC, Ripich was chair of the Department of Communication Sciences (1985-1994) and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University (1994-1999). She still holds teaching appointments as adjunct professor in the College of Nursing and in the Department of Communication Sciences of the College of Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.

Ripich earned a Ph.D. in speech pathology from Kent State University. She also received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech pathology from Cleveland State University.

She has been the recipient of many honors and fellowships. In 1996 she was awarded a Congressional Fellowship from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ripich was selected from four finalists who visited both UNE campuses last month to meet with faculty, staff and students. Members of the University community were asked to evaluate each candidate, and more than 400 responses were received. Furey said this excellent response “helped guide the search committee’s final decision. We are very grateful to the UNE community for its hard work in the selection process.” The search committee was chaired by UNE Trustee Robert E. McAfee, M.D.

UNE
The University of New England is an independent university with two distinctive campuses on the coast of southern Maine. The University’s mission is to educate men and women to advance the quality of human life and the environment.

UNE is home to Maine’s only medical school and offers more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the health sciences, natural sciences, social sciences, osteopathic medicine, education, business administration and liberal arts. U.S. News & World Report has ranked UNE among the top regional universities in the Northeast. The University is also developing into a significant research institution, with an emphasis on biomedical, neuroscience, applied health and marine science research.

(Press release issued Jan. 2, 2006)