Karen McGrath, senior vice president for enrollment and student success

Hartwick College Names McGrath Senior Vice President

November 16, 2020

Hartwick College President Margaret L. Drugovich today announced Karen McGrath has been promoted to senior vice president for enrollment and student success, effective immediately.

In her new role, McGrath will have institutional accountability for student persistence, from recruitment through graduation. Oversight of direct student academic support services has been added to her leadership of admissions, financial aid, the Office of the Registrar, campus life and student experience, and campus safety.

This fall, the College launched FlightPath, an innovative approach to supporting student success through exposure to a future focused curriculum, mentoring and career preparation. The Education for Tomorrow academic program includes a new core curriculum that is designed to provide students 21st-Century skills preparation. McGrath will oversee some of the newly established, direct student support services that are part of the FlightPath program.

“Karen McGrath is the ideal person to assume oversight of these essential student success functions,” said Drugovich. “Her scope of responsibilities is broad, her leadership has been excellent, and she has demonstrated an unflagging commitment to the success of our students. Karen’s oversight of these additional student services will provide an opportunity for the complete and seamless integration of support that is envisioned with FlightPath.”

McGrath joined Hartwick in May, 2015, as vice president for enrollment management. In December, 2017, she was promoted to vice president for enrollment management and student experience, integrating oversight of all functions within the enrollment management and student affairs divisions.

“I am honored to be in this new role and grateful to have this opportunity to impact the lives of all our students, from the time of expressing interest in Hartwick until they walk across the stage at commencement,” McGrath said. “It is exciting to be able to contribute to build the future of Hartwick through this additional responsibility.”

Her roles at Hartwick build on the previous successful vice presidencies McGrath held at Medaille College in Buffalo, NY, from 2012-15, and Norwich University in Northfield, VT, from 1993-2012.

A dual graduate of the University of Vermont in Burlington, she earned a B.S. in chemistry and an M.Ed. in higher education and student affairs administration from the university.