Unity College Names Stephen Mulkey as President, Seeks to Attain National Presence in Sustainability and Environmental Education

UNITY, Maine, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An internationally-recognized scientist has been named the next President of Unity College, a small environmental college in Maine that has made significant strides in recent years.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110512/DC01348)

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Tim Glidden announced today that Dr. Stephen Mulkey, Director of the Program in Environmental Science at the University of Idaho, will assume duties in July as President.

Glidden praised Mulkey's extensive track record of success in the sciences, strong reputation among his peers in higher education, and ability to articulate a vision for attaining key goals.

Mulkey will lead a college that has achieved a number of transformative milestones over the past five years under the leadership of outgoing President Mitchell Thomashow.  During this time, Unity has gone from being a quality, small regional environmental college to a multi-award winning leader in cutting-edge, hands-on, experiential environmental programs and sustainability that has gained a national presence.

In 2010, Unity College was named to the top 30 of the Washington Monthly college rankings, and was one of eighteen U.S. colleges and universities named to The Princeton Review's Green Rating Honor Roll. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching also selected Unity College for its 2010 Community Engagement Classification.  Unity College was among only two institutions of higher learning in Maine that were among the 112 U.S. colleges and universities named to the list.

"I have been impressed for some time by the achievements of Unity College," noted Mulkey.  "From its vision for the creation of academic centers to focus and organization of the curriculum to meet the complex, ever changing needs of a natural world facing the crisis of climate change, to its leadership in sustainability, this college has reached a place where its promise really is coming to fruition.  It is a distinct honor to serve Unity College at this time of growing national recognition and I am privileged to help continue the college's transformation and growth."

"There is a close knit community at Unity College that is dedicated, hands-on, collaborative and supportive," Mulkey added. "From the moment I arrived on campus I felt a connection with community.  There is a boundless enthusiasm and sense of possibility linking all of those dedicated to this endeavor together.  It will be a privilege to serve this community and grow with it."

www.unity.edu

SOURCE Unity College