SNHU Celebrates the Inauguration of President Lisa Marsh Ryerson

On October 15, 2025, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) celebrated the inauguration of President Lisa Marsh Ryerson, marking a new chapter for the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of higher education. The ceremony, held at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH, brought together SNHU faculty, staff, students, trustees, and alumni along with presidents from several area colleges and universities to honor SNHU’s proud history its vision for the future under President Ryerson’s leadership.

“I’ve always been drawn to spaces where people are learning, asking questions, and imagining what’s possible,” Ryerson said in her inaugural address. “I’ve always believed in the power of education to transform lives. That belief is what first drew me to SNHU in 2016, when I joined the Board. This is a university with a bold vision, powerful mission, and, most importantly, an unwavering commitment to learners.”

Honoring a Legacy of Access and Innovation

In his keynote remarks, President Emeritus Dr. Richard A. Gustafson, who led the institution from 1987 to 2003, reflected on SNHU’s 93-year history of mission-driven leadership and innovation.

“The inauguration of a new president is a significant milestone in an institution’s history as it is a symbol of the passing of the baton of leadership to the next generation,” Gustafson said. “In Dr. Lisa Marsh Ryerson, we have seasoned leadership that knows the heart and soul of SNHU. As leaders before her, she will not navigate by looking in the rearview mirror but will set her compass on the horizon and blaze future pathways for the university.”

A Vision Grounded in Access and Equity

In her inaugural address, President Ryerson reflected on SNHU’s evolution from a small accounting school in downtown Manchester to a global learning community serving more than 200,000 learners and 300,000 alumni. She reaffirmed SNHU’s mission to expand access to education and strengthen the communities it serves.

“When we expand access to learning, we strengthen lives, families, and communities,” Ryerson said. “SNHU’s greatest asset is its people. Together, we will continue to strengthen higher education, expand opportunity, and build a more just world.”

She called on the SNHU community to continue evolving to meet the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s workforce, adding, “And I extend an invitation to other institutions: join us. Let us reimagine higher education not just for some, but for all. Together, we will continue to strengthen higher education. We will help shape the future of higher education—one that expands opportunity, supports our communities, and builds a more just world. It will be a great future. And I am so proud to build it with you.”

About President Lisa Marsh Ryerson

Ryerson became SNHU’s sixth president in 2024 after serving two years as university provost and six years on the Board of Trustees. This past summer, the SNHU Board of Trustees approved a five-year contract extension for Ryerson through June 2030.

Under Ryerson’s leadership in her first year as president, SNHU developed a new strategic practice, launched a professional skills website that includes a Credit For Prior Learning-approved micro-credential, and helped inform important higher education research and policy recommendations.

Before joining SNHU, Ryerson served as president of the AARP Foundation and president and CEO at Wells College. She serves on several national and regional boards, including the American Council on Education, the National Women’s History Museum, and the New Hampshire College and University Council. She holds a B.A. from Wells College and an M.S. from SUNY Cortland.

Ryerson lives in Manchester, NH, with her husband, George. Together, they share a blended family with four children and three grandchildren.

The inauguration ceremony was streamed live online. The full recording can be viewed here.

Siobhan Lopez is a former journalist, who is now the director of media relations at Southern New Hampshire University.