West Haven Native Named Franklin Pierce University President

WEST HAVEN, CT — The West Haven educators who helped mentor and inspire Kim Mooney when she was growing up have to be smiling now at the news that Mooney has just been named Franklin Pierce University’s sixth president.

Mooney told Patch that it was her teachers in West Haven who helped inspire her to ascend to where she is today and that is now at the top of her field.

Mooney, who is a Franklin Pierce University alumna becomes the first woman to occupy this prestigious position, which went into effect on August 1. The university is located in New Hampshire.

“I am deeply honored by the confidence and trust that has been conferred upon me to lead this university,” says Mooney.

For Mooney a love of education all began in West Haven.

“Education is a noble profession and I learned that early on through my experiences in West Haven’s school system. Whether it was fifth grade science at Molloy School, seventh grade English at Carrigan, or a humanities or civics course at West Haven High School, there were always teachers who took the time and made the effort to inspire learning. The impact of teachers’ influence over your life choices isn’t always immediately evident, so this belated thank you, while overdue, is heartfelt,” Mooney told Patch.

Mooney’s sister, Tracy, who is the University of New Haven Police Chief and she also spent 20-years with the Milford Police Department, said she is so proud of her sister’s accomplishment.

“Kim has worked very hard to get where she is,” Tracy Mooney said. “She cares about those students and campus community very deeply.”

Tracy Mooney said growing up in West Haven was special for the family.

“West Haven is a very small community. We’re very proud when someone from West Haven achieves success. There is a lot of Westie pride. I’m so proud of my sister,” Tracy Mooney said.

Kim Mooney said she will lead Franklin Pierce by focusing on collaboration, communication, and community.

“The students, alumni, faculty, and staff can expect to be part of an institution that works with its constituents collaboratively, in a close-knit community where clear communication is the standard. Franklin Pierce is a family that is as strong as all the people who contribute to its momentum and success,” Kim Mooney said.

Mooney’s commitment to Franklin Pierce has spanned several decades, from being an active alumna to serving on the Board of Trustees for seven years, then as interim president for six months prior to serving as provost and vice president of academic affairs for another seven years.

She has spearheaded the development of the University’s new Strategic Plan and is making it a central focus of her presidency to capitalize on the important initiatives begun over the last several years, according to a news release.

Steve Camerino, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, has served on the Board of Trustees since 2012, says in a statement that, “I am very excited that I will have the opportunity to work together with Dr. Mooney. In the time I have served on the University’s board, her dedication to the success of our students and her support for faculty engagement have been a consistent theme of her interactions with the trustees.

She has played a critical role in helping the University meet the changing needs of its students and prepare them for the world they will enter when they leave Franklin Pierce. Dr. Mooney’s deep ties to the University along with her experience elsewhere and the respect she has from other educators are significant assets that she will bring to her new role,” Camerino added.

Board Chair Michael C. J. Fallon says in a statement, “During my eight years as a Trustee and the most recent three years as Board Chair, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Mooney in a wide spectrum of activities. She is a consummate professional who blends a strong strategic vision with a collegial style of management and a personal commitment to the unique qualities of Franklin Pierce University.

On behalf of the Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees and the entire University community, I heartily welcome and congratulate Dr. Kim Mooney as Franklin Pierce’s sixth president and look forward to the continued success of the University under her leadership,” Fallon said in a statement.

“Provost Mooney has served in one capacity or another at Franklin Pierce for the bulk of its 10 years as a university,” says Dr. Kerry McKeever, dean of the College at Rindge, in a statement. “During her tenure here, she has demonstrated remarkable acuity in her vision of what a thriving university that has the best interests of the educational experience of students should be. She knows well how to translate vision into action, as demonstrated by the wealth of programs and opportunities she has developed and supported over the years. Dr. Mooney understands thoroughly the place of Franklin Pierce University in the region, the state, and the nation. I am proud to have served under her and even more enthusiastic about serving under her presidency.”

Photos courtesy of Franklin Pierce University