Office of the President

James H. Mullen, Jr.

President of the College

Jim became the 21st president of Allegheny College on August 1, 2008. Before coming to Allegheny, Dr. Mullen was president of Elms College. He has also served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and as senior vice president of Trinity College. In addition to his leadership roles in higher education, Dr. Mullen was a sought-after lecturer in Trinity College’s public policy department, where his work focused on the American presidency. He also held appointments as professor of history at Elms College and as professor of political science at UNC Asheville.

Dr. Mullen is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He holds a master of public policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a doctorate of higher education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He and his wife, Mari Elizabeth, have two children, Franki and James.

Terry Bensel

Associate Dean of the College, Professor of Environmental Science

Terry’s primary responsibility is in faculty development, and he is also director of the Freshman Seminar Program and faculty liaison to the Learning Commons. Terry came to Allegheny in 1994 after completing his Ph.D. in natural resources at the University of New Hampshire. He has taught in the Department of Environmental Science at Allegheny since 1994, chaired the department from 2007 to 2012, and has served on the Faculty Review Committee and on Faculty Council. His teaching interests include ecological economics, environmental issues in the developing world, energy and the environment, and sustainable forestry. He received the Julian Ross Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2010. Terry also received a Fulbright teaching/research award to work in the Philippines in 2001-2002, and he has published extensively on issues of energy and environmental change in that country since 1992. He recently co-authored two textbooks through Bridgepoint Education: Contemporary Environmental Issues and Global Socioeconomic Perspectives.

Brian F. Dalton

Vice President for Enrollment and Communications

Brian holds a B.A. in political science and a master of public administration from Gannon University. He earned a Ph.D. in education administration from the University of Texas at Austin. For the three years before joining Allegheny in January 2012, Brian was on the senior staff at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., first as senior vice president for enrollment management and most recently as senior vice president for strategic planning where he was responsible for the development, maintenance, evaluation and advancement of the university’s 10-year plan. Brian served for 10 years, from 1998 to 2008, as vice president for enrollment management and associate academic dean for program development at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn. From 1993 to 1998 he worked at the University of the Incarnate Word/Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas, most recently as dean of enrollment management. Before that Brian served as associate director of admissions at Gannon University in Erie. Brian was recently honored by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers as the sole recipient at an American college or university of an award for outstanding leadership in strategic enrollment management.

Linda C. DeMeritt

Provost, Dean of the College, Professor of Modern and Classical Languages

Linda received her doctorate from Michigan State University in German language and literature before joining Allegheny’s Department of Modern Languages in 1982. In addition to teaching courses in German language, literature, and culture, she has served as chair of the department, was elected to both Faculty Council and the Faculty Review Committee, which she also chaired, and served on the Summer Working Group. In 2003, she was appointed Dean of the College. Linda has written, translated, or edited five books on contemporary Austrian literature, and has served as the national president of the Modern Austrian Literature and Culture Association. She’s a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received a Fulbright for study in Austria.

Joseph J. DiChristina

Dean of Students

Joe obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Beloit College and a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Akron. He arrived at Allegheny College in 1999 to direct the Allegheny College Center for Experiential Learning (ACCEL) which includes the offices of Career Services, Community Service and Service Learning, Pre-professional programs, and International Programs and Services. In 2001, he was named Dean of Students. He oversees Counseling, Safety and Security, Health Center, Student Involvement, Diversity Affairs, Spiritual and Religious Life, Athletics and Recreation, and Residence Life in addition to ACCEL.

Gilly Ford

Chief of Staff

Gilly is a graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned a B.S. in social work. She worked for fifteen years at Women’s Services, Inc., in Meadville, a dual center that served victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, where she had been executive director since 1998. In 2008 she accepted the position of director of development at Allegheny College. In 2011 President Mullen asked her to join his staff as assistant to the president for board relations, and in 2012 she was promoted to chief of staff. She has broad experience both at Allegheny College and on the local, county and state level as a member of numerous committees and boards that helped shape her knowledge, skill, and depth in governance-related areas. Gilly oversees the president’s staff.

Richard Holmgren

Chief Information Officer, Associate Dean of the College, Associate Professor of Mathematics

Rick Holmgren is head of the College’s Learning, Information, and Technology Services group, which includes the Library, the Learning Commons, Computing Services, and Institutional Research. Rick came to Allegheny in 1988 after earning his Ph.D. in mathematics from Northwestern University. A tenured member of the mathematics department, Rick accepted an administrative position as Associate Dean of the College with primary responsibility for faculty development in 1999. Since then, he has served in a variety of administrative roles including Director of First-Year/Sophomore programs and advising, chair of the College’s accreditation review team, participant with the College’s strategic planning efforts, and founding Director of the Learning Commons. Rick attended the Frye Institute in 2005 and was appointed head of the Learning, Information, and Technology Services group shortly thereafter.

Marjorie Klein

Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs

Marjie has been with Allegheny since 2000, serving in the capacity of Director of Development and Major Gifts, and then Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs. She assumed the role of Vice President on November 1, 2006. Marjie completed the Harvard University Management Development Program in 2002 and holds a B.A. from Gannon University. She has nearly 25 years of experience in fundraising and constituent relations. As Vice President, Marjie oversees the development and alumni affairs programs.

Larry Lee

Vice President of Finance and Administration

Larry joined the College in 2002 as director of athletics and recreation. He was appointed to the position of associate vice president for finance and planning in 2006, to senior associate vice president in 2010, and to vice president of finance and administration in 2012. He earned his B.S. in kinesiology at the University of South Colorado and his M.A. in business administration and management from the University of Denver. Larry provides expertise in areas such as projects, contracts, campus facilities, strategic planning and auxiliary enterprises. He directly oversees Physical Plant, the Merriman Bookstore and Conference and Event Services, as well as real estate transactions, sustainability initiatives and operations, and lab and workplace safety coordination and training. He is also the main college liaison with our dining and custodial contractors.

David McInally

Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Dave holds a bachelor’s in business and a master’s in English from the University of Akron and a doctorate in administrative and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He joined Allegheny’s staff as Assistant Dean of Students in 1986; he later served as Dean of Students, Secretary of the College, and Vice President for Finance and Planning. Dave oversees College finances, facilities, strategic planning, human resources, and a variety of other departments. He also supervises the Dean of Students and Dean of Enrollment.