Board of Trustees announces appointment of Dr. Jeffrey A. Doggett; new president’s term begins July 1, 2024
The Wagner College Board of Trustees unanimously named Dr. Jeffrey A. Doggett as president-elect today, opening a new chapter in Wagner College’s rise as a destination for practical liberal arts education. A strategic leader and seasoned steward of institutional transformation and growth, Doggett will become the College’s 21st president on July 1, 2024.
"Throughout the search process, I have been impressed with the sense of community at Wagner College, and these close ties give me confidence that Wagner is well-positioned to excel," Doggett said. "Higher education is facing a number of challenges, especially in the Northeast. Despite that, I am certain those few institutions that are innovative, agile and have a growth mindset will thrive and continue to make a difference in the lives of their students, faculty, staff, alumni and host community.”
“I am honored to be invited to join this community and excited to be a part of what is happening on campus and in the broader relationship between Wagner, Staten Island and Greater New York,” Doggett continued. “I want to thank the search committee — including Chair Tom Kendris — as well as Chair of the Board Jeff Forchelli and the full Board of Trustees for this opportunity to join and lead the Wagner community.”
Doggett will be formally introduced at the Staten Island campus on Thursday at 4 p.m. (watch the livestream) as he prepares to succeed President Angelo Araimo, who is retiring after 30 years of service to the college.
“Jeff is committed to becoming a part of our community while setting ambitious goals for growth,” said Araimo, a non-voting vice chair on the Presidential Search Committee. “I know he will shape a future for Wagner where innovation and collaboration thrive.”
Wagner College’s beautiful hilltop campus overlooks the rest of New York City. Wagner offers a practical liberal arts education, with degrees in the health sciences, business, performing arts and education, a robust Division I athletic program and a growing number of graduate-level offerings. Forging strong civic engagement and partnerships with industry, government and nonprofits across New York City, Wagner provides a unique blend of experiential learning opportunities from its residential campus on Grymes Hill.
Doggett joins Wagner from Merrimack College, where he currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chancellor of Learning and Student Success. During his time at Merrimack, the college grew its undergraduate and graduate enrollment while strengthening its financial position and academic reputation. Doggett also helped reposition Merrimack in various ways: elevating its brand and ranking, improving its standing within its host communities, and moving its athletics program into Division I, where it competes against the Seahawks of Wagner College in the Northeast Conference.
“Jeff brings a proven track record of transformative leadership and strategic vision,” said Tom Kendris, Esq. ’78, who chaired the presidential search committee. “He is poised to catalyze Wagner College’s journey forward, bolstering its mission and enriching the lives of all college community members.”
Before his tenure at Merrimack, Doggett spent more than a decade at Northeastern University, ultimately serving as Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs.
In addition to leading on campus, Doggett has actively engaged in regional and national conversations about the future of higher education, including federal student loan programs, the role institutions can play in economic development, innovation in higher education, and the importance of protections for student-athletes.
Doggett earned his Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and his B.S., M.P.A., and M.B.A. degrees from Northeastern.
