Caldwell University Names New President

CALDWELL, NJ — Caldwell University this week named Matthew Whelan, Ed.D., to the role of president. He will be the university's first male lay president and only the second male president in the school's 81-year history.

According to a release from the university, Whelan has been an administrator at Stony Brook University since 2006 where he served in various leadership roles spanning undergraduate and graduate admissions, financial aid, registrar, enrollment management, student services, fundraising, facilities and strategic planning.

He's also led administrative and faculty teams at St. John’s University, Hofstra University, William Paterson University and Mercyhurst College.

Most recently, Whelan was Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Stony Brook.

Whelan was made university president by a vote of the Board of Trustees at Caldwell. Board chair Laurita Warner said the decision came after a national search led by partners Hyatt-Fennell and Linda Luciano, of Caldwell University.

"I speak for all the trustees who are excited and invigorated by the skills, experience and passion Matt will bring to Caldwell University," Warner said in a statement. "We value his commitment to our Catholic Dominican tradition and are confident in his ability to innovate and further our upward trajectory of success at Caldwell."

Whelan succeeds president Nancy Blattner, who has been Caldwell's president since July 2009. She's vacating her post to return to her home state of Missouri to work as president of Fontbonne University, the school said.

Whelan is a native New Jerseyan from Denville, having attended St. Mary’s school and Morris Catholic High School. He has also previously lived in Caldwell.

"We are looking forward to returning to Caldwell and immersing ourselves in the life of the university, the work of the Sisters of St. Dominic and the greater Caldwell community," Whelan said in a statement.

His duties as president will take effect July 1.