The Elmira College Board of Trustees announced on Tuesday the appointment of Dr. John F. Dolan as the College’s sixteenth president, effective July 1, 2026. Dolan succeeds Dr. Charles W. Lindsay, who will retire on June 30 after nearly a decade of distinguished leadership.
Dolan is a nationally recognized educational leader with more than four decades of experience guiding institutions through growth, financial strengthening, and organizational change. He currently serves as Head of School at St. Mary’s Lynn, where enrollment has nearly doubled during his tenure. Under his leadership, the school has also secured more than $25 million in annual fund support, built a transformative multi-million-dollar endowment that has positioned the school for long-term stability and success, and successfully completed the quiet phase of a campaign to further strengthen the school’s financial future.
“The Elmira College Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome Dr. Dolan to the Elmira College community,” said George H. Winner, Jr. Search Committee Chair and Board of Trustees Chair. “Elmira has experienced significant growth in enrollment and fundraising in recent years, and we are confident that Dr. Dolan’s energy and leadership experience will build on that momentum.”
The appointment follows a national search that attracted a highly competitive pool of candidates and was guided by a committee representing Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, and students.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve as Elmira College’s sixteenth president. Throughout its rich history, Elmira has distinguished itself through a commitment to academic excellence, student success, and transformative educational experiences,” said Dolan. “At a time when artificial intelligence is transforming how we access and interact with information, students are seeking the authentic human connections, thoughtful mentorship, and immersive learning experiences that foster critical thinking and discernment – qualities that institutions like Elmira College are uniquely positioned to provide. I look forward to working alongside the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and Board of Trustees to build on that strength, advance the College’s mission, and amplify the momentum driving Elmira’s rise.”
Prior to joining St. Mary’s Lynn, Dolan served as Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics at Simmons University, where he led a comprehensive, data-driven enrollment strategy that produced record enrollment, increased student diversity, enhanced academic quality, and generated millions in new enrollment revenue. Earlier roles at Le Moyne College, La Salle University, Drexel University, and the University of Denver reflect a consistent record of successful leadership through enrollment and financial challenges, institutional renewal, and community engagement.
“The Search Committee is pleased to have successfully identified a new president that has a clear understanding of the opportunities facing higher education and an appreciation for Elmira College’s distinctive strengths,” said Clare van den Blink, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and member of the Search Committee. “We welcome our new president who will bring his experience in fundraising, enrollment, and student success to expand Elmira College’s institutional sustainability.”
Dolan holds a Doctor of Education from Drexel University, a master’s degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Denver, and a bachelor’s degree in Education from Benedictine College. He has taught graduate-level courses at Drexel University and Boston University and currently serves as an instructor with the University of Notre Dame’s ACE Center, supporting leadership development in Catholic education.
Dolan and his wife, Marilyn, will relocate from the Boston area to Elmira this summer and will reside in The President’s Home on campus. They look forward to becoming active members of both the Elmira College and greater Elmira communities.
