Dr. William Bisset, Ph.D., has been named the 12th president of Lourdes University following Mary Ann Gawalek, Ed.D., who resigned last fall. He began his new role the week of June 5, participating in the annual Lourdes golf outing, followed by a board of trustees meeting on Wednesday.
“I was familiar with the Sisters of St. Francis and Lourdes University, but I never imagined that one day I would be president of that university,” he said. “Actually, I was really not even looking for a presidency role, but when the opportunity presented itself I knew this was the right thing for me. Sometimes, the best opportunities happen when you are not looking.”
According to Dr. Bisset, the search firm hired by the Lourdes Board of Trustees, made contact with him, noting his name had been suggested for the position. “When I learned the history of Lourdes and looked at the core values of the Sisters of St. Francis and the institution, I realized how this all aligned with my own. Also, I realized that the qualifications the search firm was looking for really matched my skill set. I felt that Lourdes University is the place I need to be,” he said.
“And, I have not been disappointed. The Lourdes community, including the Sisters of St. Francis, the board of trustees, the faculty, staff, and students have all been so supportive and welcoming. The transformative stories I have heard from students on campus are truly amazing. I am greatly anticipating this new challenge!” Dr. Bisset added.
According to Lourdes Board of Trustees Chair Bill Carroll, “He brings extensive experience in growing enrollment, a keen eye for bridging multiple community partnerships, and a strong interest in elevating the University’s visibility in the region.”
The newest Lourdes president has several priorities on his agenda. First, is to improve the overall enrollment while developing strategies to stay mission-centric when meeting the optimum enrollment standards. He is also looking for innovative fundraising opportunities along with a greater level of community engagement. “I want the people of Sylvania to consider Lourdes University as Sylvania’s University. My goal is to find ways to help students become more engaged with downtown Sylvania and Sylvania residents to be more involved with Lourdes,” he said.
“I love what I do. I have enjoyed my past 35 years working in higher education and consider myself very fortunate that I enjoy going to work every day,” he recalled. “I know the same will be true in this new position, as well.”
According to Dr. Bisset, he is very transparent as an administrator and approachable. He takes pride in his communication abilities and is committed to being a leader who is in constant communication with all of his communities.
Dr. Bisset most recently was at Marymount University in Alexandria, Va. where he served as vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs since 2020.
He has 34 years of experience in Catholic higher education administration, including key leadership roles at Marymount and Manhattan College in the Bronx, N.Y.
Under his leadership, both institutions experienced record growth in their undergraduate and graduate applicant pools while remaining faithful to their mission-centric commitments of serving diverse students and families of modest financial means.
His innovative initiatives helped make Manhattan College one of the most ethnically diverse Catholic colleges in the United States and Marymount the only federally designated Hispanic-serving institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In addition to a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University, Dr. Bisset received a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration, Policy, and Planning from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saint Anselm College.