Brother Ronald Gallagher Reappointed President of Saint Mary's College

(Moraga, Calif., May 22, 2009) - Saint Mary's College of California announced today that Brother Ronald Gallagher, F.S.C., Ph.D., has been reappointed to another four-year term as President. Brother President Gallagher received unanimous endorsement from the College's Board of Trustees and Brother Visitor Stanislaus Campbell, F.S.C., head of the De La Salle Christian Brothers' San Francisco District. Gallagher's second term as Saint Mary's president will commence on July 1, 2009.

'Brother President Gallagher has acted methodically and purposefully to build and strengthen Saint Mary's over the past four and one half years,' said Brother Visitor Campbell. Gallagher's ongoing efforts in enhancing relationships between the College and key constituents, leadership in appointing outstanding senior administrators and the establishment of a comprehensive capital campaign for the College were noted as key accomplishments of his first presidential term.

'In addition to these important steps, we have been particularly impressed by his energy, focus and resolve in steering the College through the global economic crisis,' said Brother Visitor Campbell.

'His ability to keep Saint Mary's focused on strategic priorities, such as further enhancing the excellence of the academic core of the College, ensuring the quality of the student experience, maintaining affordability, seeking efficiency and effectiveness and maintaining momentum on strategic initiatives in the midst of these trying times has been commendable,' said James Quandt, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the College.

Brother President Gallagher said he is honored to be in a position of leadership at the College and is certain Saint Mary's will successfully navigate the current economic realities. 'We have been challenged to sharpen our vision, adjust our priorities, and work together as a community to achieve the student-centered mission of Saint Mary's College. I am confident that our academic community will continue to rise to even greater levels of academic accomplishment, recognition and service in the coming years, as we move towards our sesquicentennial in 2013," he said.

Gallagher assumed the role of Saint Mary's president on January 1, 2005. He possesses a wealth of experience in college administration and in steering institutions through challenges. From 1993 to 1997, he served as the vice chancellor of Bethlehem University, where he oversaw administration, finances, development and academics. As the leader of a Catholic university in the deeply divided Middle East, he responded to formidable challenges by forging strong regional and global support for the school. Enlisting the help of many countries, individuals, groups, international aid agencies and the Vatican, Gallagher was able to raise the funds necessary for Bethlehem University to fulfill its educational mission among the economically disadvantaged Palestinian community.

In his role as Secretary General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Rome from 1997 to 2001, he organized the 43rd General Chapter, an international assembly that resulted in a seven-year global strategic plan for Lasallian educators.

Before assuming the presidency, Gallagher chaired the Department of English and Drama at Saint Mary's from 2002 to 2005. He served the College as an associate professor of English since 1993 and as an assistant professor of English and Modern Languages from 1984 to 1992. He also was an assistant to the president between 1990 and 1993.

Brother President Gallagher is an alumnus of the College, graduatingfrom Saint Mary's in 1969 with a B.A. in English. He earned his doctorate in comparative literature from the University of Washington in 1990.