Mary B. Marcy is the President In Residence at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, and President Emerita of Dominican University of California, where she served as President from 2011-2021. Mary B. Marcy’s nationally recognized research focuses on small college innovation and transformation. As demographic, financial and policy shifts make the future especially unpredictable for small colleges across the country, Marcy has published and presented extensively on issues of leadership and strategy in higher education.

Marcy’s inaugural vision led to the creation of the Dominican Experience, which has become a transformative reality for students, as evidenced by dramatic increases in student success, satisfaction, and graduation rates. These achievements are particularly notable in a student population that is highly diverse, including an undergraduate population that is over 60% students of color, over 1/3 Pell-eligible, and which includes many first-generation college students. Marcy’s career-long focus on innovation, college access, and civic engagement has earned recognition from the American Council on Education and The Washington Center.

Prior to joining Dominican, Marcy served as provost of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and vice president of Bard College. Born and raised in western Nebraska, Marcy received her Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Nebraska. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in politics from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Current Term

2023 – 2026