BSU President announces plans to step down
By Greg Dudek
Comment Staff
Bridgewater State University President Dana Mohler-Faria announced on Wednesday afternoon he will step down as president at the end of the 2014-2015 academic year.
Mohler-Faria, who has held the position for the past 23 years, told Bridgewater State staff at an all-employee meeting that he decided the time had come to leave Bridgewater State.
“I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to have been your president and continue to learn from and be inspired by all that you do and how you do it,” said Mohler-Faria in a letter sent out to faculty and students via email after the meeting. “Together, let’s make this final phase one that will be a fitting capstone to this wonderful period in the history of Bridgewater and an exciting preface to the chapter that awaits.”
In the letter, Mohler-Faria said there were three reasons behind making an early announcement to his departure.
First, he wanted to allow for ample time for Bridgewater State to search for his replacement as well as to give time for him to collaborate with the incoming president. The other reason included giving more time to help the university transition during this period.
“I understand this change in presidency to be at the leading edge of what will be a much broader and positive transition,” Mohler-Faria said, “for an institution that is clearly on a strong, upward trajectory and extremely well positioned to ascend to new levels of excellence.”
During his tenure as president, Mohler-Faria spearheaded several feats to move Bridgewater State into the limelight, some of which were highlighted in the letter. Four years ago, Mohler-Faria helped Bridgewater State achieve university status.
Also, Mohler-Faria oversaw the creation of more than 75 full-time faculty positions which was the most amongst the 10 largest colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
Over the years at Bridgewater State, Mohler-Faria helped to expand the campus immensely with the construction of 10 new buildings, to go along with the modernization of many others.
“We have transformed a very respectable, comprehensive, regional college into a first-rate, flagship university with global reach,” Mohler-Faria said.
Mohler-Faria said stepping down as president was not an easy decision for him to make, but that he felt privileged to call Bridgewater State home for a long period of time.
“I must admit that, deep in my heart, this has not been an easy decision,” Mohler-Faria said. “Given my love for Bridgewater and for all of you, I always knew the conclusion of my presidency – no matter when it was to occur – would be difficult for me personally.”
With Mohler-Faria scheduled to step down in approximately 15 months, the search for Bridgewater State’s next president will begin soon.
Mohler-Faria said in the letter that Bridgewater State is hoping to have a new president in place by late fall of 2014.
Greg Dudek is The Comment’s Editor-In-Chief. Follow him on Twitter at gdudek10 or email him at gdudek@student.bridgew.edu.
