Fisher College, a private four-year institution based in Boston’s prestigious Back Bay, announced today that it has selected Steven Rich, MBA as its 10th president. Rich has served as the College’s Interim President since July of 2020 after the retirement of Dr. Alan Ray. In that time, President Rich has shown tremendous leadership throughout the 2020-2021 academic year and has played a pivotal role in creating a safe and collegial environment at the College throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Rich has done an exemplary job as Interim President and enjoys the full support and confidence of Fisher's Board of Trustees. We look forward to working with President Rich as Fisher pursues its mission to its students and the community in the coming years,” said Alexandra Bartsch, JD, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
“It is a great honor and privilege to be entrusted by the Board of Trustees to serve as the 10thpresident of Fisher College. The College has stayed true to its admirable mission for over 117 years, and I’m excited to continue that legacy. I look forward to working with the Fisher College community and to maintaining the College’s important role in the higher education landscape.” President Rich said.
Rich, a Fisher College employee since 2001, served as the College’s Chief Financial Officer for nearly two decades. Under his leadership, he executed a financial turnaround that included nineteen years of operational surpluses, a growth in the quasi-endowment by $53 million, increased revenue by over $11 million and has purchased over $25 million in real estate. In addition, as a member of the executive team of the College, he was instrumental in developing three strategic plans. Rich currently serves as a financial member of several visiting accreditation teams for the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
The accomplishments Rich achieved have allowed Fisher to be a pillar of growth at a time when surrounding schools are closing. For decades, the College has operated from a conservative fiscal philosophy. As a result, Fisher now enjoys a multi-million-dollar unrestricted endowment and an unbroken nineteen years of generating surpluses at the end of each fiscal year. Fisher College is a financially strong institution; one that will be here long after our students graduate
Prior to joining Fisher, Rich worked as a financial controller at the Education Development Center formerly located in Newton, Massachusetts. During his leadership of the $80 million dollar international educational corporation, he established internal financial controls and developed up-to-date accounting policies and procedures to comply with both Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and federal regulations. Before his time at the Center, Rich also spent eleven years as Controller and Director of Finance at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in the City of Boston.
Rich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Salem State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University. Beyond his work at Fisher, he is a member of the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers (EACUBO) and serves on the board of the New England Employment Insurance Association (NEEIA). Rich is also an avid Boston sports fan and coaches youth sports in his spare time. He currently resides in Winthrop, Massachusetts and enjoys fishing, boating, traveling, and spending time with his family.