President and Leadership

Steven Rich, MBA, President

 
HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP
 
A  Fisher College employee since 2001, President Steven Rich has served as the College’s Chief Financial Officer for nearly two decades. Under his leadership, he executed a financial turnaround that included eighteen years of operational surpluses, a growth in the quasi-endowment by $30 million, increased revenue by over $15 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 efforts executed by Rich 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 eighteen years of generating revenue 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.

 

A HISTORY OF BUILDING FINANCIAL GROWTH AND STABILITY

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

EDUCATION

Rich holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Salem State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University.

 

Steven Rich, MBA

Steven Rich, MBA

President's Cabinet
Dr. Janet Kuser, MBA, EdD
Vice President for Academic Affairs
 
Dr. Robert Melaragni, MBA, 
EdD 
Vice President of Enrollment Management
 
Brian Perrin, J.D.
Dean of Students
 
Lynne Robinson, MBA
Vice President of Graduate Professional Studies
 
Carol Smith, MBA
Vice President of Finance

Board of Trustees

Officers

Alexandra L. Bartsch, JD, Chair
Attorney at Law

Rebecca B. Costello '68, PhD
Vice-Chair
Scientific Consultant, RBCostello LLC
 
Walter J. Dillingham, Jr., CFA, Treasurer
Managing Director, Wilmington Trust N.A.–Endowments & Foundations

James Bayles, Clerk
Senior Manager, Consulting, ValueD Consulting, LLC
 

Members

LaVerne Brown, PhD
Senior Scientist, Skin and Hair Care, Analytical Method Development, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company
 
Stephanie Davidson, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Ohio Board of Regents

Peter C. Everett, MD
Staff Physician, Boston University Affiliated Physicians, Boston Medical Center
 
Christian C. Fisher
President Emeritus, Fisher College
President, Ten Gates Development LLC
 
Dean Walton, PhD
Professor of English, Assistant Dean school of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Fisher College. (Retired) 
 
 
John McDonnell
Managing Director International, Tito's Handmade Vodka
 
Ike Papadopoulous
Senior Managing Director.
Regional Head of Investment Banking
Hilltop Securities
 
Ashok Patel
Vice President, Development/Operations for Jamsan Hotel Management
 
Vikas Patel
Business Development, Boston Trade International
 
Paul M. Rowe
Wellesley Volkswagen