Peirce College president to retire
The president of Peirce College has announced he will retire at the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year.
James Mergiotti has led the Philadelphia-based college, which largely caters to working adults, since 2009 and has been involved with Peirce - first as a member of the board of trustees and then as an employee - for about 30 years.
Under his leadership, the college adopted its Peirce Fit model, allowing students each week to choose whether to attend class online or in person. He also oversaw the creation of the college's first two graduate degree programs in Organizational Leadership & Management in 2013 and Health-care Administration in 2016 and the expansion of several undergraduate programs in areas such as accounting, criminal justice and health-care administration.
And recently, Peirce partnered with Harcum College in Bryn Mawr to offer bachelor's degree completion programs on Harcum's campus.
"We have accomplished a great deal on behalf of our students and alumni and will do even more together over the next 16 months," Mergiotti said in a statement. "At that point, it will be a perfect time to begin the third act of my life and for Peirce to move forward with new leadership and the rejuvenation that change will bring."
Peirce, which offers both bachelor's and associate's degrees, serves about 2,200 students.
Peirce's board of trustees will conduct a search for a new president.
Board Chair Barbara A. Prutzman praised Mergiotti for inspiring "a culture of innovation and 'high touch' service for the working adult students we serve."
"We are grateful," she said, "that Jim has provided us significant time leading up to his retirement from Peirce to find his successor."
