Introducing New College President Kevin C. Weinman

Kevin C. Weinman will be the fifth Marist President starting in October. Source: Carlo de Jesus/Marist College.

As the leaves on campus begin to change and fall approaches, Dr. Kevin C. Weinman will take over for President Dennis J. Murray, who is retiring after nearly 40 years at Marist. 

Currently, Dr. Weinman is finishing up his duties as the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at Amherst College and will begin to serve Marist in October. Last year, Dr. Weinman was a part of the task force that played a critical role in Amherst’s pandemic response. Prior to Amherst, he was part of the Dartmouth College faculty and has carried teaching and administrative roles in higher education for the last 15 years. 

“No one is ever fully prepared for the demands of a college presidency, and I am eager to learn and grow into the challenge over time,” Dr. Weinman said. “As a first-generation student in my family at the undergraduate level and a lifelong learner at the graduate level, I feel a direct kinship to Marist’s broad-based educational mission.” 

Visiting hundreds of colleges, Dr. Weinman was drawn to Marist’s beautiful scenery and well-maintained facilities across campus. The college's global presence and bold classroom innovations also made Marist stand out versus competitors.

“I sense a deep dedication by Marist faculty and staff to the institution, and to providing the very best form of education for its students,” Weinman said. “I am also very excited about Marist’s legendary school spirit among its students and its passionate alumni.” 

Dr. Weinman will begin his position as president with approximately 95% of the Marist campus vaccinated against COVID-19. Challenges regarding COVID-19 on campus are still prevalent as the college has already seen over 40 cases since the start of the fall 2021 semester. 

“Health and safety of Marist community members in all of its forms will be my highest priority,” Dr. Weinman said. “This includes a multi-layered approach for COVID-19 safety measures and protocols that follow the science to minimize the risk of virus transmission.” 

In addition to COVID-19 prevention strategies, Dr. Weinman is also committed to addressing mental health on campus. As president, Dr. Weinman will work to keep a traditional form of in-person classes for the benefit of the entire campus community.   

“I look forward to engaging with, and learning from, those who have been working hard to “protect the pack” at Marist for a year-and-a-half now,” Dr. Wienman said.

After the tumultuous last year on campus, Marist students are eager to have a stronger voice when it comes to discussing policy changes that will affect the community. Student Government and other emerging student leaders have expressed the importance of creating a more open dialogue between the administration and the student body. Dr. Weinman’s views on increasing student voices in discussions on key issues is one of the reasons he was chosen by the selection committee.

“Dr. Weinman was a strong candidate from the start, and throughout the process, he came out as extremely student-centered in his approach,” SGA president Tenzin Tsundu said. “I think this approach will translate very well to Marist and will be appreciated by the student body.”

As part of this “student-centered approach,” Dr. Weinman plans to add office hours to his schedule to give students the opportunity to meet with him one-on-one and discuss any concerns or ideas they have about Marist. He is also committed to working closely with SGA and other student leaders to develop a better understanding of what issues matter the most to Marist students.

“I look forward to connecting with students in every way possible, both formally and informally.  I am eager to meet with student leaders across campus to engage in dialogue about what they feel is working well and how Marist can better meet the needs of students,” Dr. Weinman said.

Some of the most pressing issues at Marist over the last year are domestic violence, sexual assault, and other matters with the Title IX office. After multiple protests, calls for a Title IX Student Advisory Board and allegations that the College violated the Clery Act, the Marist community is anxious to see how President Weinman will address concerns of student safety and Title IX proceedings.

“The safety and wellbeing of students will be my top priority, in particular the prevention of sexual violence,” said Weinman. He plans to set “zero tolerance policies'' surrounding issues of sexual misconduct. 

Weinman also emphasized that he will work to improve communication channels with the Title IX Office and provide more resources for survivors. “The most important preventative measure is the fostering of a positive and pervasive culture of sexual respect, and I look forward to furthering efforts already underway to do so.”

Dr. Weinman enters the Marist presidency with big goals--and big shoes to fill. 

“In my early weeks and months, I plan to do a lot of listening and learning,” Dr. Weinman said. He intends to learn as much as he can from students and staff alike as he begins his term to find opportunities to improve the college and better serve Marist students.

He leaves the Marist community with this message before he takes office:

“I am so excited to be here! I am so excited to meet you, to listen to you, and to work together with you to make Marist an even better place. As I told the incoming Class of 2025, I am a new Marist student, too. I am eager to learn…from you, and from Marist’s faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees. The possibilities are endless if we work together in common cause to make Marist the very best institution that it can be.”