Dr. Richard H. Dorman became Westminster College's 14th president on July 1, 2008. Dorman, a 54-year-old New York state native who has spent many years in Pennsylvania, succeeded R. Thomas Williamson, who led Westminster since 1997.

"During the search process, I was impressed with the passion, commitment, and desire to improve exhibited by the students, faculty, trustees, alumni, and staff," Dorman said. "Westminster is an outstanding institution and I am honored to have been chosen to serve all who are so clearly committed to the College and its students."

"Westminster's mission is to help men and women develop competencies, commitments and characteristics which have distinguished human beings at their best," said Board Chair 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."

Trustee Leonard M. Carroll, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, said, "This search has been intense, requiring the dedicated efforts of many individuals of the campus community. I am absolutely convinced that, of the many candidates whose credentials we reviewed and those whom we eventually interviewed, Dr. Rick Dorman is absolutely the best for Westminster. He was our unanimous choice. Without a doubt, Dr. Dorman will prove to be an effective and engaging leader of our College."

Dorman added, "Tom Williamson has been an extraordinary leader for Westminster and has established a strong foundation upon which the institution can continue to build its reputation for quality. My wife, Beverly, and I look forward to working with Tom and his wife, Jean, in the months ahead and celebrating their many accomplishments with the Westminster family."

Dorman served as vice president for institutional advancement at Otterbein College since 1996. He was responsible for all external affairs and 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) following four years as an executive with the Penn State Alumni Association. The Penn State Alumni Association earned the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education's Grand Gold Medal as the best Alumni Relations program in the nation for an unprecedented three consecutive years during Dorman's tenure with the Association.

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

Dorman 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 The Pennsylvania State University.

A member and elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Dorman is also very active in the community having served in leadership positions with a number of civic, service, and educational organizations. He has made a number of presentations at national conferences on institutional advancement, student recruitment and alumni-admissions partnerships, fund raising, and board relationships.

He and his wife of 27 years, Beverly Dorman, a registered nurse, have a son, Daniel, 21, and daughter, Kelly, 19.