Saint Joseph’s College has appointed Dr. James Dlugos of Netcong, N.J., as its 14th president, following a 7-month national search. Dlugos is currently the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs at College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, N.J., a position he has held since 2005.
A graduate of Boston College where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English, Dlugos holds a doctorate in English from the University of Virginia. In addition, he has completed the management development program of Harvard University’s Graduate School in Education and the Council of Independent Colleges’ presidential vocation and institutional mission program.
In 1989, he joined the faculty at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., later serving as a senior administrator and then as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. He spent a total of 16 years at Washington and Jefferson, and has more than 20 years of classroom teaching experience.
Claire Bowen, Chair of the Saint Joseph’s College Board of Trustees, made the presidential announcement on May 15, just after graduation. According to Bowen, Dlugos is “an adept collaborator who can forge a common vision and strategy for the future in tandem with the Saint Joseph’s community.” At the College of Saint Elizabeth, Dlugos led strategic planning efforts, a successful funding drive to renovate science laboratories, and the development of innovative partnerships with community colleges, organizations and corporations. He also was charged with leading recruitment and enrollment efforts there.
“I am thrilled to be chosen and eager to contribute to the story of Saint Joseph’s College as it celebrates its 100th year. It’s an exciting and vital story and one that I’m proud to be a part of,” said Dlugos. “The range of programs, the extraordinary commitment to students in residential and online programs, and the dedicated faculty and staff make this a vibrant and comprehensive institution.”
The author of numerous scholarly and non-scholarly papers and presentations, Dlugos has provided extensive service to the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association. He is expected to begin as president in July, replacing Ken Lemanski who served as interim president.
Dlugos has three children: Kathryn, 19, Jim, 17, and Matthew, who will turn 2 in July. He and his wife, Melissa, plan to live in nearby Windham.
