Marymount University President Matthew D. Shank was lauded by the Virginia General Assembly in House Joint Resolution No. 411 for “his years of exemplary service to the students, staff, and faculty of Marymount University” as well as “his many contributions to higher education.” Patrons of the resolution, approved by both houses of the legislature, are Delegates Patrick Hope, Mark Levine, Alfonso Lopez and Richard (Rip) Sullivan Jr. and Senators Adam Ebbin, Barbara Favola and Janet Howell.
In November, Shank announced he would be stepping down from the presidency on June 30. He had succeeded James Bundschuh in 2011 to become the institution’s sixth president since its founding in 1950 as the first Catholic college established in Virginia. The resolution commends Shank for his many achievements in his seven-year tenure and having “touched the lives of countless students and won the admiration of his colleagues for his dedication, leadership, and vision.”
Specifically noted are Shank’s accomplishments in launching a $40 million capital campaign, developing a new vision for the future, implementing a strategic plan known as “Building the Institution of Choice,” enhancing student diversity and retention rates, and introducing new academic programs. Also recognized is his leadership of university-wide renovation projects, as well as physical expansion with the opening of the mixed-used academic and business complex, Ballston Center, on the Rosslyn-Ballston commercial corridor. The resolution further cites empowerment of students to succeed in an interconnected world, efforts recognized with the Global Education Leadership Award from the World Affairs Council-Washington, D.C.
An active member of the Arlington community, Shank is a community advisor to the Arlington Free Clinic and Arlington Public Schools and has served on several boards, including the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Arlington Community Foundation, the Catholic Business Network of Northern Virginia, the World Affairs Council, Bishop O’Connell High School, and the Leadership Center for Excellence. He presently serves on the boards of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and the Washington Research Library Consortium.
Before his presidential tenure at Marymount, Shank served as dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton and chaired Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Management and Marketing. He was an American Council on Education Fellow, assigned to the Office of the Chancellor at Vanderbilt University and held academic appointments at the University of Mississippi and Southern Illinois University.
An accomplished scholar, Shank has published numerous articles, presented at many conferences and is the author of the book Sports Marketing: A Strategic Perspective (5th Edition). He has consulted with scores of organizations in the areas of marketing research, strategic planning and marketing strategy.
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Dr. Matthew D. Shank
