Inauguration of Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr.
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Dr. Lesperance becomes the College’s 16th president and first Hispanic president.
On Saturday, September 30, Dr. Wayne F. Lesperance, Jr. officially took the podium as New England College’s 16th president and first Hispanic president. He became interim president in September of 2022 and was named president in December of 2022. He was inaugurated Saturday in a ceremony that coincided with NEC’s Fall Festival weekend for alumni, parents, and friends of the College.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the Rosamond Page Putnam Center for the Performing Arts on NEC’s campus in Henniker. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members attended the milestone celebration. Guest speakers included Chairman of the Board of Trustees Lex Scourby ’75, Trustee Adam Kapner ’02, President of the Alumni Association Louis Pakula ’85, Dean of Humanities Andrew Morgan, Director of Academic Advising Elizabeth Brennan ’19, Campus Compact of New Hampshire Executive Director Deborah Scire EdD ’17, and Dr. Lesperance’s mother Manuela Bohling and aunt Carmen Kusiak.
“NEC has done well in navigating the challenges facing higher education,” Lesperance said in his inauguration address. “Going forward, we must continue to make good progress in our enrollment, retention and graduation rates; strengthen our commitment to students to prepare them for the workforce of tomorrow; and work every day to instill a sense of pride in our College. I commit to leading New England College with positivity, transparency, support and, most of all, service.”
Before being named Interim President last year, Dr. Lesperance served as professor and as part of the College’s administration. He joined NEC in 1999 and relished his role as Professor of Political Science for 17 years. He transitioned to administrative roles in 2016 when he became Dean of Residential Undergraduate Programs. He also served as Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost.
