Anna Maria College appoints new president

Image Photo I Courtesy of Anna Maria College Sean Ryan, incoming president of Anna Maria College

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Eight months after long-time Anna Maria College President Mary Lou Retelle announced she would retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, Sean Ryan has been named as her successor and the 12th leader of the Paxton school.

Ryan’s appointment follows a nationwide search where the board of trustees selected the New England native from his current position as senior vice president, directing for administration, strategic initiatives, and trustee affairs at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, according to a Thursday press release from Anna Maria.

"Dr. Ryan's impressive track record in leadership, commitment to Catholic higher education, and proven success in enrollment growth and financial management make him exceptionally qualified to lead Anna Maria College into its next chapter,” David Trainor, chair of the Anna Maria board of trustees, said in the release.

Ryan will come to his new presidential role having most recently managed numerous Bellarmine departments within his senior vice president capacity, including human resources, athletics, university communications, and information technology.

Since joining the Kentucky school in 2007, Ryan has worked as its interim vice president for development and alumni relations, a role in which he spearheaded efforts to raise $7 million in seven months. Spreading his fundraising efforts outside the university walls, Ryan has secured nearly $6 million in donations for local and regional organizations supporting academic programs, student scholarships, and student success initiatives.

"I am honored and humbled to be selected as the next president of Anna Maria College," Ryan said in the release. "Anna Maria’s mission to educate students to become ethical leaders and community-oriented professionals resonates profoundly with me as an individual and my passion for higher education. I look forward to returning to Massachusetts to work alongside the talented faculty, staff, and students and build upon the strong foundation established by President Retelle.

Ryan earned his doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania, his master’s degree from Regis College in Weston, and his bachelor’s from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.

"Dr. Ryan's collaborative leadership style, fundraising expertise, and commitment to shared governance will serve our community exceptionally well as we write the next chapter in Anna Maria's distinguished history,” Kimberly Kennedy, vice chair of the board of trustees, said in the release. “Throughout the search process, we were impressed by his ability to balance strategic innovation with respect for tradition, his success in developing new academic programs while honoring the institution’s mission, and his genuine enthusiasm for engaging with all members of the college community.”

With 937 full-time or full-time equivalent enrollment as of fall 2023, Anna Maria college is the 12th largest college or university in Central Massachusetts when ranked by full-time enrollment, according to data provided to WBJ’s Research Department.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.