The Hartwick College Board of Trustees named Laurel Bongiorno, Ph.D., as the College’s 13th president. Currently serving as vice president for academic affairs and provost, Bongiorno will assume the presidency on June 1, 2026.

A Collaborative, Student-Centered Leader

President-elect Bongiorno has been an integral part of Hartwick’s leadership team since joining the College in 2022. As provost, she has provided overall academic direction and strengthened the College’s distinctive Life Balance College model, an innovative approach that integrates academic rigor, career preparation and well-being.

Her leadership portfolio includes the Office of Academic Affairs, the Stevens-German Library, the Student Success and Career Development Center, the Griffiths Center, the Center for Global Education, the Pine Lake campus, the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, the Office of the Registrar and the Yager Museum of Art and Culture.

Under her guidance, Hartwick has launched eight new majors and six minors, restructured academic departments and strengthened collaborative, data-informed planning across divisions. She has enhanced budget stewardship practices, improved student success and retention efforts and fostered a culture of shared governance and transparency grounded in Appreciative Inquiry.

Deep Experience

Before arriving at Hartwick, Bongiorno spent more than two decades at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont, where she held formative leadership roles that shaped her collaborative and student-centered philosophy. She served as dean of the Division of Education and Human Studies and later as dean of the Stiller School of Business, overseeing programs spanning education, psychology, law, criminal justice, social work and business.

Earlier in her career, she founded and directed Champlain’s nationally recognized online master’s in early childhood education, leading it from concept through its first graduating class and establishing its reputation for innovation and excellence. She later served as executive chair of Champlain’s 2025 Strategic Plan, guiding a college-wide process grounded in Appreciative Inquiry.

A nationally recognized expert in early childhood education and strengths-based leadership, Bongiorno is a frequent keynote speaker, conference presenter and author, with work appearing in “Inside Higher Ed,” “Psychology Today” and publications of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She has expanded Hartwick’s national reputation through active engagement with the Council for Independent Colleges, EAB and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Education and Personal Background

Bongiorno earned her doctorate in education from Walden University, her master’s in early childhood education from Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, and her bachelor’s in business and economics from Gordon College. She also holds certification in Appreciative Inquiry from Champlain College.

Bongiorno and her husband, Chuck, look forward to continuing their engagement with the Oneonta community, which they have called home since 2022.

Vision for Hartwick’s Future

President-elect Bongiorno has identified three priorities: building confidence and pride in Hartwick, advancing the Forward Momentum Plan, and ensuring a sustainable future for the College.

Central to that vision is the continued implementation of the Forward Momentum Plan, which focuses on enrollment and retention, philanthropy and long-term financial sustainability. This includes expanding access for New York students, strengthening alumni engagement and participation, and pursuing thoughtful academic growth and innovation to generate new revenue streams.

Ensuring financial sustainability also means right-sizing operations while investing strategically in programs that attract and retain students. Recent academic expansion, including eight new majors aligned with student demand, reflects Hartwick’s commitment to evolving while remaining grounded in the liberal arts.

Bongiorno is particularly energized by initiatives that embody the Life Balance College model, including the rejuvenation of Pine Lake, the strong integration of athletics and academics, and transformative international travel January Term experiences that connect students to the world beyond campus. Together, these efforts reinforce her belief that students should not have to choose between academic excellence and personal well-being, but can achieve both at Hartwick.