UNITY, Maine — Dr. Stephey Mulkey announced Monday his plans to step down as the head of Unity College at the end of the year after four years as its president.
According to a statement from the college, Unity’s board of trustees accepted Mulkey’s resignation “reluctantly” and plans to craft a transition plan this fall leading up to his vacating the office.
During Mulkey’s time at Unity the private non-profit school saw three straight years of enrollment growth and furthered its commitment to sustainability and the environment, according to the release.
Under Mulkey’s leadership, the Unity College Board of Trustees in 2012 unanimously voted to become the first college in the country to divest its endowment of 200 fossil fuel companies.
Mulkey is also credited with renovating and modernizing the college’s teaching and research facilities, leading the effort to adopt sustainability science to frame curriculum across the college, oversaw the acceptance of the college’s largest gift of $10 million, implemented construction of two new fossil-free residence halls and created a professional graduate program in sustainability science.
“On behalf of the board, I wish to extend our profound gratitude and appreciation to both Stephen and Michele for the many positive and indelible impressions they have made upon us, our college, and our community,” said Unity College Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Nickerson. “Stephen has not only elevated the profile of our college, but he has built a solid infrastructure, stabilized enrollment while attracting a bright, energetic and engaged student body, made significant gains in fund raising, and implemented visible improvements to our campus.”
Mulkey is Unity’s 17th president. The college celebrates its 50th anniversary in July.
“Stephen is a tremendous mind, a force for sea change in the world of academia, a crucial voice for sanity and sustainability in the natural world and, most importantly, a valued friend and trusted colleague,” Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said. “He has led our college boldly into a new era of excellence in programming, service, and financial sustainability. The board and I are supremely confident that Unity College is well-positioned to continue its transformation into national prominence due to his efforts.”
There was no word Monday on a possible replacement for Mulkey.
