Dr. Raymond DlugosMerrimack College, founded in 1947, is a selective, liberal arts college based in the Catholic, Augustinian tradition and propelled by the mission to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives. Merrimack centers around five core values: intellectual excellence, community building, real-world application, scholarly advancement and social service. Merrimack helps students develop the spiritual, moral and personal awareness necessary to navigate life after college.
Merrimack’s Division of Mission and Student Affairs is led by Fr. Ray Dlugos, who joined the college in 2008 as vice president for mission and ministry. Dlugos oversees the division’s 37 full-time and 15 part-time staff members in several departments including: the Grace J. Palmisano Center of Student Ministry, residence life, student involvement, and the Diversity Education Center. Under Dlugos’s leadership,the Division of Mission and Student Affairs aims to provide students with confidence in expressing their unique skills and talents; respect for and accountability to others in the community; competencies to effectively navigate a culturally diverse and interdependent world; and sensitivity to the needs of others in the pursuit of the common good.
Although guided by the Catholic and Augustinian tradition, Merrimack College is committed to maintaining a supportive
environment for all students to succeed regardless of faith tradition or religious affiliation. The Division of Mission and Student Affairs supports the college’s mission by providing the co-curricular opportunities necessary to “build a community of scholars welcoming and respecting a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and perspectives.” Through this emphasis on the growth and development of students and staff alike, Merrimack College is one of this year’s Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs at Baccalaureate and Liberal Arts Institutions.
