College chooses president

Westminster’s new
president is slated to begin his duties July 1.

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Dr. Richard H. Dorman, vice president for institutional advancement at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, has been selected as the 14th president of Westminster College.

Dorman, 54, is expected to take over his new duties July 1, when President R. Thomas Williamson steps down. Williamson has led Westminster since 1997 and announced his retirement plans last February.

Dorman has served as vice president for institutional advancement at Otterbein College since 1996. He oversaw the most successful fund-raising years in the college’s history. Otterbein completed a $35 million comprehensive capital campaign and completed a number of renovation and capital projects during his tenure.

He served as assistant vice president for development (1994-96) and director of health sciences development at the University of Louisville (1990-94) after four years as an executive with the Penn State Alumni Association.

Dorman served as director of marketing for Prestige Expositions in Ridgewood, N.J., from 1983-87, and began his career as director of choral activities at Red Lion Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania from 1975-79.

He earned a bachelor of music degree in music education from Susquehanna University in 1975. He earned his master’s in counseling/college student personnel services and his doctorate in higher education administration from Pennsylvania State University.

He and his wife of 29 years, Beverly Dorman, a registered nurse, have a son, Daniel, 23, and daughter, Kelly, 21.

“Westminster’s mission is to help men and women develop competencies, commitments and characteristics which have distinguished human beings at their best,” said board chairwoman Debora S. Foster, a 1974 Westminster graduate.

“Dr. Dorman has the skills, experience and dedication needed to lead Westminster College while embracing the special mission that has served Westminster since 1852. We are delighted that he will join the Westminster community.”

Westminster, a liberal arts college founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in 41 majors.