UNITY — Unity College President Stephen Mulkey intends step down from the position and retire at the end of the year.
The Unity Board of Trustees announced Mulkey’s retirement in a news release posted on the school’s website. His retirement will be effective Dec. 31. Mulkey was hired as Unity’s president in 2011 and led the school when the trustees voted in 2012 to become the first U.S. college to divest its endowment portfolio of fossil fuels.
Trustees “reluctantly” accepted Mulkey’s resignation and will work with the school administration to craft a transition plan, according to the release.
In a written statement, board of trustees Chairman Bruce Nickerson extended the board’s “profound gratitude and appreciation.”
“Stephen has not only elevated the profile of our college, but he has built a solid infrastructure, stabilized enrollment while attracting a bright, energetic and engaged student body, made significant gains in fundraising, and implemented visible improvements to our campus,” Nickerson added.
Mulkey is the 17th president of the college. He holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry, fisheries and wildlife and a master’s degree in biology and ecology from the University of Missouri and a holds a doctorate in biology and ecology from the University of Pennsylvania. The college is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Mulkey is well-known for his research on ecosystems and is recognized for his research and program development related to climate change, which he has called “the greatest challenge of our time in what will be known as the environmental century.”
Along with working on the board of trustees to unanimously vote to divest the college’s endowment from 200 fossil fuel companies, Mulkey also presided over three years of enrollment growth, led the effort to adopt sustainability science as a framework for the school’s entire curriculum, started renovation and modernization of the school’s teaching and research facilities and implemented construction of a fossil- fuel-free, suite-style residence building on campus.
“I wish to thank Stephen for reopening my eyes to the natural world and for all he and (his wife) Michele (Leavitt) have given of themselves to Unity and Unity College,” Nickerson said. “I commend them both on their stewardship. They will be leaving us far better than they found us.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.