St. Joseph's president to step down next summer

Sister Elizabeth Hill, president of St. Joseph's College since 1997, announced Friday that she'll be stepping down next summer, confident that the liberal arts college is on course to "grow and prosper."

"I am looking forward to exploring some new avenues and interests," she wrote in a two-page letter sent to faculty and staff. "I want to thank all of you for making these years so wonderful."

A Brooklyn native and St. Joseph's graduate, Hill began her career at the college 34 years ago, starting as assistant to the president.

St. Joseph's, an independent college in the Catholic tradition, has about 5,000 students split between its campuses in Patchogue and Brooklyn, according to Nancy Connors, vice president for institutional advancement.

Connors said Hill increased the college's enrollment and endowment, which now totals roughly $35 million.

Hill was also a driving force in building a new Business and Technology Center on the Long Island campus, according to the college's website. She was not immediately available for comment.

Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri said Hill's retirement on June 30, 2014, will leave a "leadership hole" at the institution.

Pontieri praised Hill for bringing well-known figures to campus, including former Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt. In 2008, after immigrant Marcelo Lucero was stabbed in the village in an infamous hate crime, Hill brought in speakers to educate students about what had happened and why greater tolerance was needed, the mayor recalled.

"She's just a tremendous force in the college and in this community," he said.

Under Hill's direction, the mayor said, the college has moved into the hotel, hospitality and tourism fields as demand shrinks for its traditional focus -- training teachers.

Hill and village officials are trying to see if a new hotel can open in Patchogue and serve as a training ground for St. Joseph's students, Pontieri said.

"It's just such a smart idea, because you're not losing the demographic that you want," he said.

Chris Drewes, chairman of the college's governing board, said Hill tried to make the college "recession proof" by modernizing courses and adding degrees for health sciences, nursing and the hospitality sector.

"She's done all that at a very challenging time for small liberal arts colleges," Drewes said.

The college plans to launch a national search for a new president in August, officials said.

In her letter, Hill said she expects the college to satisfy more rigorous accreditation standards. The next review is planned for 2018.

She said the college, "while faced with many challenges, is well-prepared and positioned to meet those challenges and continue to grow and prosper."