New College for Lifelong Learning President Named

July 19, 2004 - Lee , NH - University System of New Hampshire ( USNH ) Chancellor, Stephen J. Reno announced today that Dr. Karol A. LaCroix has been named as President of the College for Lifelong Learning (CLL). Dr. LaCroix is currently Dean of the University of New Hampshire at Manchester and will join the College for Lifelong Learning on August 1.

"Dr. LaCroix is a talented and well recognized academic leader and manager," said Chancellor Reno. "UNH-Manchester has grown, prospered, and more importantly, served its students extraordinarily well during her tenure. Her experience in leading a community-based college that especially serves students who are balancing family and work along with their studies is a particularly good fit with the mission and the values of CLL.

"Thanking the Board of Trustees and the Chancellor for the opportunity to serve, Dr. LaCroix said that she is "pleased and honored to be appointed as the next President of the College for Lifelong Learning."

"I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and students at CLL in continuing the College's thirty year tradition of serving adult learners. Dr. LaCroix added that her academic background, combined with her administrative experience with adult learners and non-traditional students at the UNH-Manchester campus, will be helpful to her in promoting the unique and important role that CLL plays within the University System of New Hampshire.

"I am very proud of the work accomplished at UNH-Manchester over the past several years, and will miss my colleagues in Manchester, both personally and professionally," continued Dr. LaCroix. "I do look forward to working closely with the Presidents of Plymouth State University, Keene State College, the University of New Hampshire, and the NH Community Technical Colleges in creating a state wide system of access to public higher education that is of high academic quality and meets the needs of our NH citizens."

Chairman of the USNH Board of Trustees, Andrew Lietz said that "the appointment of Dr. LaCroix is an important and very positive first step. We are putting into action the USNH Board's recent strategic decisions to more effectively meet the needs of all students state wide. We look forward to seeing CLL benefit from Dr. LaCroix's expertise and leadership."

Dr. LaCroix has been Dean of UNH-Manchester since 1996. Previously, she held a variety of academic and administrative positions on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, including Interim Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Dean of the School of Health and Human Services, as well as Chair and Professor of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science. Dr. LaCroix received her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Biomedical Science from Northeastern University in Boston and a M.O.E. in Occupational Education and a B.S. in Medical Technology from the University of New Hampshire.

Established in 1972, the College for Lifelong Learning serves adult learners and geographically place-bound students statewide through a network of nine community-based learning centers. CLL offers a wide variety of courses and programs leading to associates, bachelors and, in partnership with Plymouth State University, Masters Degrees.

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