Lower Merion’s Mark Reed, President of St. Joseph’s University, has made huge improvements in all aspects of school’s operations in his first two years in charge, writes Susan Snyder for Philly.com.

Reed was faced with numerous challenges when he took on the position from his predecessor who had received a no-confidence vote from the school’s faculty. Reed immediately started turning the situation around, by reversing the expanded admissions program and opting for smaller classes.

This meant he could cut 42 positions, 29 of which were already vacant. This swift action resulted in a healthy operating surplus by the end of his first year of leadership.

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The new president then reduced the admission rate from 85 to 77 percent giving the school its strongest incoming class in ten years. He has also managed to keep tuition increases at two percent making it more competitive.

“We had expectations, and he has met all of them,” said Edward W. Moneypenny, chairman of St. Joseph’s board of trustees. “We had to have someone who understood and appreciated how the shared governance system works in a well-run university.”

Read more about Reed’s achievements at Philly.com by clicking here.

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