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Dr. Martin J. Anisman Will Retire in Spring, 2011
Dr. Martin J. Anisman, Fourth President of Daemen College, Will Retire in Spring, 2011
February 2, 2010
Media
Contact: Mike Andrei
Director-College Relations
(716) 839-8472
mandrei@daemen.edu
Dr. Martin J. Anisman, fourth president of Daemen College, has announced that he will leave the presidency of the College in spring, 2011. Dr. Anisman began his tenure at Daemen in 1996, as the College approached its 50th anniversary. He will leave the College at a date (yet to be determined) sometime in the spring of 2011.
Daemen Board of Trustees Chair Caroline Hassett Buerk, ’59, noted that the College has made significant progress in many areas under Dr. Anisman’s leadership.
“Dr. Anisman’s energy, leadership, and vision have brought Daemen College to a position of strength in challenging times, placing the College on sound financial footing, and building on our tradition of innovation in the programs we offer. Moreover, Daemen’s enrollment has grown significantly during his tenure, while also increasing the academic achievement level of our students.
“Dr. Anisman will leave Daemen having placed the College in a position for a bright future. We very much appreciate his many successes as president, and wish him much happiness in his retirement.”
In a statement, Dr. Anisman said, “March 1, 2011 will mark my 15th anniversary as President of Daemen College. It has been both an honor and privilege to serve as Daemen's President. I have enjoyed working with a great group of trustees, and with a wonderful, dedicated faculty, staff and administrators. I particularly cherish the interaction I have had with all the students I have met here over the past 15 years.
“There are many people to thank, but I will limit it to now to my wife Cheri, and my children for supporting me in all my endeavors. I look forward to spending more time with them. Daemen College was an outstanding institution when I came, and I believe it is even better now. I am convinced it will continue on its path to excellence in the years ahead.”
Under Dr. Anisman’s leadership, Daemen College enrollment has increased to 2,800 students, an all-time high. While maintaining allied health programs for which Daemen has become known, Dr. Anisman promoted an increased focus on a more balanced undergraduate curriculum, emphasizing the liberal arts. Under his leadership, while Daemen’s signature graduate-level programs in nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant have expanded, the largest enrollment growth for the College has come in undergraduate degree programs – education, graphic arts, psychology, English, and history.
In January, 2009, the College opened the latest, and most impressive addition to the Daemen campus – the $15 million, 45,000 square foot Research & Information Commons (RIC). The single most important construction project in Daemen’s history, the RIC is built with design features to conserve energy, water, and other resources; maximize the use of recycled materials; and minimize the use of toxic materials. Conceived and designed as an integrated building system incorporating environmentally friendly design features, the RIC is among the first free-standing “green” buildings on a Western New York college campus. The RIC also functions as a core component of the Daemen Environmental Studies Program.
In December, 2009, the Research & Information Commons received the prestigious Gold LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED certification designates Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
In 1999, Dr. Anisman promoted the launching of the Daemen College interactive distance learning network, which is now broadband-based. In 2001, the College completed a $13.5 million dollar housing project – brick apartment-style residences offering students modern living units, wired for the Internet.
Additionally, under Dr. Anisman’s leadership, the College Mission Statement was re-written, to emphasize critical thinking, cultural understanding, social responsibility and diversity. Moreover, Daemen College has now become one of Western New York higher education’s leading centers of service learning, recognized nationally as a “Point of Light” by former President Bill Clinton. The Daemen Service Learning program received additional national recognition in 2007 and 2008, when it was named by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth.
In 2008, Dr. Anisman was elected to a second term on the Board of Directors of the Albany, New York-based Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. His additional Board memberships include the Buffalo Niagara Partnership; the YMCA of Western New York; and former chair of the Western New York Higher Education Consortium.
Dr. Anisman holds an A.B. in English Literature from Syracuse University. His Master of Arts and Ph.D. are also in English Literature, specializing in the Victorian novel. Both advanced degrees are from New York University. Dr. Anisman and his wife, Cheri, have three children.
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