2001-2015
With the inauguration of the College’s 10th president, Hood entered the new millennium on the verge of a historical transition to coeducation. Partially in response to declining enrollment, in 2002 the Board of Trustees voted to admit male residential students for the next academic year and affirmed its commitment to the core mission of educating both women and men.
Prior to his appointment, President Volpe held numerous positions at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, including professor of management, chair of the department of business and economics, dean of the graduate school of administration, co-director of the center for the advancement of the study of ethics, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty, provost and interim president.
Before joining Capital, he held a number of positions at his alma mater, Gannon University in Pennsylvania, including serving as a tenured faculty member in business, director of the Small Business Institute, director of the Small Business Development Center, director of the MBA program, dean of admission and dean of the Dahlkemper School of Business.
Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Gannon University, a master of business administration at Xavier University, his doctoral degree in higher educational administration at the University of Pittsburgh and completed post-doctoral studies in academic leadership at Carnegie Mellon University. While pursuing his doctorate, he also worked in the Institute for Higher Education at the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition to his more than 30 years of experience in higher education, President Volpe has served as a labor arbitrator; consultant to a number of businesses, governmental and higher education institutions; and has taught for the American Institute of Banking. His teaching and research areas are in marketing, leadership and business ethics, and he has made presentations and directed many professional seminars and workshops in these areas.
During his tenure as president, Dr. Volpe saw increase its enrollment more than 50 percent, established new academic and athletic programs, made numerous campus improvements and strengthened its financial health.
