Benedictine Monk, Professor and Administrator, Named 17th President of Saint Vincent College

LATROBE, Pa., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Br. Norman W. Hipps, O.S.B., a Benedictine monk, mathematics professor and administrator, has been named the 17th president of Saint Vincent College, effective July 1, according to an announcement today by the Rt. Rev. Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., archabbot and chancellor, and Mr. J. Christopher Donahue, chair of the board of directors.

Br. Norman, who is currently executive vice president of Saint Vincent College, dean of the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing, and associate professor of mathematics, becomes chief executive officer of America's first Benedictine college, a 164-year old Catholic college of the liberal arts and sciences which is sponsored by the Benedictine monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey.

"I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve as President of Saint Vincent College and I formally accept this appointment with gratitude and humility," Br. Norman said at a news conference at the Fred M. Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College.

"For over 160 years, Saint Vincent College has served the region and the nation by offering an education that not only prepares students to make a living but how to live. This philosophy of education combines the basics necessary for success in a profession with the creative, life-affirming values of the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts tradition. We will continue to build on our strong academic programs, as well as our community that makes it possible for us to grow in learning and in love," Br. Norman continued.

"I am thankful for the support of my Benedictine confreres, fellow alumni and benefactors, especially the charitable foundations in Latrobe, Pittsburgh and nationally, as well as governmental agencies," Br. Norman concluded. "I look forward to working together with our Board of Directors, faculty and staff to offer our students a distinctive Benedictine education. We will continue to prosper by working together."

As Dean, Br. Norman has had a leadership role in the largest construction project in the College's history with the renovation and construction of the Sis and Herman Dupré Science Pavilion, a $39 million project that will provide Saint Vincent students with a state-of-the-art facility for science education.

With Br. Norman, a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey since 1963, the College returns to having a president who is a member of the Benedictine Order after two lay presidents in Jim Will and Jim Towey.

Br. Norman becomes head of one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges, one that has made notable progress in all facets of its operation during the past 20 years. The College continues to be highly rated in national rankings.

SOURCE St. Vincent College