Following a national search, Hiram College is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Bohrer II, Ph.D., an experienced leader in higher education administration, as the College’s new vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. He will begin his work with the College on June 13.
As the chief academic officer, Dr. Bohrer will serve as a key member of the President’s leadership team and will work to identify strategic directions for the College. As part of that, he will be responsible for evaluating current academic offerings and potential new programs within the context of an evolving higher education landscape, while maintaining the College’s commitment to providing a high-quality liberal arts education to all students.
“The combination of strong liberal arts, professional programs, and an emphasis on experiential education positions the College well for today’s educational environment,” said Dr. Bohrer. “Every interaction I had during the interview process made it clear that Hiram has an extremely strong sense of community and commitment to the College. I look forward to joining this vibrant community and working with campus partners on continuing to shape the academic program to meet the needs of today’s students.”
Dr. Bohrer comes to the College from Gettysburg College after serving more than 20 years in faculty and administrative positions, including his most recent role as senior associate provost for academic success. In this role, he worked with partners across campus to enhance enrollment, persistence, and the student experience. Prior to that, he served more than five years as associate provost and dean of public policy programs, where he oversaw the co-curricular Eisenhower Institute, a program grounded in President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s legacy of leadership that prepares undergraduates to assume their responsibility as global citizens in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Bohrer also served as associate provost for faculty development, as well as an associate professor and department chair for the Department of Political Science.
Further, Dr. Bohrer focused on student success initiatives to enhance engagement, advising, and mentoring for students both inside and outside of the classroom, in addition to implementing services that meet the needs of students and foster growth. Through this role, he co-chaired several committees, including the Student Success Task Force, a body charged with addressing demographic challenges facing higher education, and the work championed data-informed means of improving student retention and graduation rates. He has also played a leadership role in successful initiatives to increase the diversity of faculty, staff, and students.
“I am excited that Dr. Bohrer is joining the executive team at Hiram,” said David Haney, Ph.D., president of Hiram College. “He brings with him a wealth of experience in areas that will be essential to Hiram’s success in coming years. He has a broad and deep understanding not only of private liberal arts colleges, but also of current trends and challenges in the increasingly diverse and complex world of higher education.”
Dr. Bohrer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in comprehensive social science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Texas A&M University.
