Dr. Gittell Named Bryant’s Next President
Elizabeth O'Neil
Additional Resources
Distinguished economist and economic development expert Dr. Ross Gittell, Chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) since 2012, has been appointed the University’s ninth president. He will succeed Ronald K. Machtley in July 2020.
The appointment follows an extensive national search and unanimous approval from the Bryant University Board of Trustees.
“Throughout higher education we need new models for enhanced student success aligned with economic growth and opportunity and societal needs,” notes Dr. Gittell. “With its exceptional student learning outcomes, engagement with industry, and deep commitment to educating future leaders, Bryant University is at the forefront. I am excited to begin the next era at Bryant.”
“Throughout higher education we need new models for enhanced student success aligned with economic growth and opportunity and societal needs.”
Dr. Gittell is highly regarded in economic and policy circles for his economic analysis and forecasting. With an extensive background in university teaching, strategic planning, and management, Gittell’s focus has been on applying economic, organizational, and management theory to regional, state, and community economic development issues. He has frequently served as an expert resource for government, non-profit, and business leaders in New Hampshire and nationally on such issues as economic policy, workforce development, job creation strategies, community development, and the business climate.
He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard University, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago.
“With its exceptional student learning outcomes, engagement with industry, and deep commitment to educating future leaders, Bryant University is at the forefront.”
Dr. Gittell's teaching career in management and economics spans over 20 years. Prior to his appointment as CCSNH Chancellor, he was the James R. Carter Professor in the Department of Management at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to the Whittemore School, he has taught at the Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at the New School for Social Research in Manhattan, and in the School of Education, Economics Department and Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
"The role that has been the most meaningful to me in my career is as a champion for the future of higher education."
"The position of Bryant University President enables me to draw on both my experience as chancellor and my nearly two decades as a professor at UNH’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics, and that is very exciting," Dr. Gittell wrote in a recent message sent to the Bryant community. "The role that has been the most meaningful to me in my career is as a champion for the future of higher education."
Dr. Gittell is extensively published, including books, numerous articles, and professional studies.
For a more complete look at Dr. Gittell's achievements, please download his CV.