New President Douglas M. Astolfi, Ph.D., begins tenure at Saint Martin’s

July 8, 2005

Lacey, Wash. – Saint Martin's College warmly welcomed its new president, Douglas M. Astolfi, Ph.D., to campus this week. The college is looking forward to a formal inauguration and accompanying festivities for its eighth president this fall. Details will be announced as plans are finalized.

One of Astolfi’s first orders of business will be to guide Saint Martin’s transition from college to university, which officially occurs Aug. 8. The landmark event will be celebrated Aug. 30, when students return for the upcoming academic year.

Astolfi comes to Saint Martin’s from Florida’s Saint Leo University, a fellow Catholic Benedictine institution, where he served as vice president for academic affairs. He takes over the Saint Martin’s post from David R. Spangler, Ph.D., who retired June 30.

Astolfi gained a strong administrative background in academia before coming to Saint Martin’s. At Saint Leo’s, he was instrumental in transforming the university into an institution noted for its academic quality, financial stability and innovation. He was instrumental in securing a $300,000 Freeman Foundation grant to develop a university economic development center and a center for entrepreneurial studies in partnership with China’s Changchun University of Science and Technology. He also was successful in obtaining several grants crucial for technological advances for faculty and the university’s academic programs.

Prior to his Saint Leo University post, he was vice president of academic affairs at Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y., and earlier served as dean of the undergraduate college at Clark University, Worcester, Mass. He also has served as director of the National University Continuing Education Association/National Endowment for the Humanities. He completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management in 1991.

Astolfi has had a tandem career as a history professor, and has numerous publications and presentations to his credit. His doctorate in history was earned at Northern Illinois University. He earned his master’s degree in history at The University of Rochester and his bachelor’s in history from Tufts University.

Astolfi and his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Shields Astolfi, a professional fundraiser in the field of education, have three children: Andrew, Christopher and Margaret.

Saint Martin’s is an independent, Roman Catholic, co-educational college founded in 1895 by the Benedictine Order. About 1,100 students are enrolled on its main campus and about 600 more in programs at the college’s extension campuses at Fort Lewis Army Post, McChord Air Force Base and Olympic College. Academically grounded in the liberal arts, the college offers 22 baccalaureate and six graduate degree programs.

Deanna Partlow
Senior editor; media relations coordinator
360-438-4541; dpartlow@stmartin.edu