President Roy J. Nirschel Ph.D.

Biography of Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., President


Roy J. Nirschel, Ph.D., became the eighth president of Roger Williams University in August 2001. Considered by many peers a visionary leader in higher education, Dr. Nirschel has engineered the transformation of the once little-known University into a globally recognized, up-and-coming Top 10 institution.

Since his appointment, Dr. Nirschel has steered Roger Williams through two strategic plans (one, RWU 2020, is currently guiding the University) and has spearheaded a physical and fiscal metamorphosis of the 52-year-old school. Applications have increased by 100 percent, and the acceptance rate has decreased more than 25 percent. The endowment has more than doubled, and a number of capital projects – including technology-rich academic centers and residence halls – are nearing completion.

Dr. Nirschel was the first at RWU to clarify the institutional mission and establish a set of core values to guide the University in its pursuits. Among his top priorities at Roger Williams are commitments to promoting global perspectives, advancing sustainability efforts on campus and beyond, and fostering an inclusive community that values civil discourse. His accomplishments earned him a 2006 “Rising Star in Higher Education” award from University Business Magazine.

Prior to taking the helm at RWU, Dr. Nirschel served as president of Newbury College in Brookline, Mass., where he secured the school’s initial accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. He has also served as vice president for university advancement at the University of Miami where he grew private philanthropy by more than $30 million.

In addition to his responsibilities at Roger Williams, Dr. Nirschel is chairman of the board for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Endowment Fund and serves on the board of directors for numerous organizations including the University of the Middle East Project, The New England Council, the Rhode Island Public Expenditures Council, the USS Saratoga Museum and American Pacific University in Vietnam. Dr. Nirschel is also a participating member of the Clinton Global Initiative, brainchild of former President Bill Clinton.

Born and raised in Stamford, Conn., Dr. Nirschel is the first in his family to attend college. He earned his Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Miami and received the Grenzebach Award for best dissertation in the field of philanthropy in 1997. Dr. Nirschel also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Miami and a bachelor of science from Southern Connecticut State University.

Dr. Nirschel resides in Bristol, R.I., and is a father of three. An avid hiker, he has traveled the globe to climb some of the world’s tallest peaks, including Mount Kilimanjaro in 2005, where he even brought a piece of the University – a paper replica of the University’s namesake, affectionately known as “Little Roger” – to join him at the summit. He enjoys adventure travel and harbors a number of creative talents, including photography and writing poetry.

95 photos | 1,427 views

items are from between 03 Jan 2006 & 16 Sep 2009.