CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Richard Guarasci was named president of Wagner College effective June 1. Wagner, Staten Island, N.Y., is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
For the past five years Guarasci has been serving as Wagner's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. He will succeed Dr. Norman Smith, who will become president of The American International University, London. Smith is the longest serving president of Wagner's 119-year history.
"I am honored to have been selected by [Wagner's] board of trustees to become the college's 18th president," Guarasci said. "I have come to love this college, and I very much agree with those who believe that Wagner is positioned to become one of the truly distinguished private, residential, liberal arts colleges in America. I am excited about assuming this important position and look forward to working with the Wagner community in taking the college to the next plateau," he said.
Guarasci was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He earned a bachelor's degree at Fordham University, New York City, and earned a master's degree and doctorate at Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
From 1992 to 1996 Guarasci was dean and taught political science at Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y. He also served as dean and founding director of the First Year Program at St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y. Guarasci served on the National Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and is a Fellow of the Society for Values in Higher Education (SVHE) and a PEW Foundation Fellow with The Washington Center for Learning. He is a member of The Asheville Institute and an advising board member for the Models for Democracy Project of SVHE. Guarasci has written several books and numerous articles. - - -
Information about Wagner College is maintained at http://www.wagner.edu on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
