Siena College president, Fr. Kevin Mullen ’75, O.F.M., Ph.D., announced today that he has been elected provincial minister of Holy Name Province, the largest Franciscan community in the United States.
“Being elected provincial minister by my brothers in the Franciscan Order is a tremendous honor,” said Mullen. “I look forward to serving them well as I lead Holy Name Province the best way I know how –with compassion and through collaboration – as we continue to help communities and individuals in the spirit of an 800-year-old tradition founded by St. Francis of Assisi.”
As provincial minister, Mullen will oversee the long-range planning and day-to-day operations of Holy Name Province and its nearly 300 friars who serve in communities on the east coast from Maine to Florida and abroad in Asia and South America. Mullen will also represent Holy Name Province to the wider Franciscan Order and to the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. He was chosen by the friars during their triennial provincial chapter and was elected to serve a six-year term. To take on this prestigious leadership position, Mullen, who has been a Franciscan friar for 38 years and a Roman Catholic priest for 34 years, will resign as Siena College president effective August 4.
“This moment is bittersweet. My new opportunity means that I have to leave Siena College, a place that I love,” Mullen said. “I have enjoyed serving as Siena’s president and I am proud of the successes that this community has shared, including the development of a new strategic plan, the expansion and improvement of campus facilities and academic offerings and the launch of a comprehensive campaign that will ensure that Siena College provides the education of a lifetime for years to come.”
While he will work from Holy Name Province’s headquarters in New York City, Mullen’s connection to the College will remain significant. As the provincial minister of Holy Name Province, he will continue to be a member of the Siena College board of trustees.
Since being selected as Siena’s tenth president by the College’s board of trustees in 2007, Mullen has guided the College through challenging times with prudent financial stewardship and vision.
During his tenure, Siena’s campus expanded, two new buildings were constructed and a third was completely renovated. Mullen also engaged faculty, administrators and staff to strengthen and develop academic offerings and athletic and residential programs while ensuring that Siena’s mission as a Franciscan, Catholic, liberal arts institution remained the priority.
Mullen credits his success as a college president to the vision, hard work, dedication and cooperation of Siena’s faculty, staff and administrative team, and to the talented pool of students whom Siena consistently attracts to its degree programs.
“Fr. Kevin’s proven track record of strategic management and forward thinking will serve him well as he leads Holy Name Province. He is a true disciple of the Franciscan tradition, which is steeped in service, compassion and respect for all people,” said Howard Foote ’74, board of trustees chair. “When we learned that Fr. Kevin’s departure was a possibility, the board of trustees took time to reflect on possible courses of action and to plan for continuity in leadership.”
It is the role of Siena’s board of trustees to choose the College’s president and while it will follow a process to select Mullen’s long-term successor, Foote announced that Siena trustee and St. Bonaventure University vice president for Franciscan mission, Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph.D., will become Siena’s interim president.
“I am honored to serve as interim president of Siena College,” said Coughlin. “As a trustee of the College and friar of Holy Name Province, I felt called to take on the responsibility of advancing the College’s mission to foster academic excellence in a liberal arts framework and spiritual growth in a Catholic and Franciscan community. I look forward to working with Siena’s faculty, staff and administration to build on the success of the College’s strategic plan and continue the good work being done to serve our students.”
Coughlin (pronounced COG-lin), a 66 year-old Buffalo, N.Y. native, has had a distinguished career in Catholic higher education both as a professor and senior administrator. Author of more than 20 articles and book reviews, Coughlin holds a doctorate from the Catholic University of America, a master’s from Boston College and a bachelor’s from St. Bonaventure University. Coughlin will take office as Siena College president on August 4.
