Dr. Kevin C. Weinman takes over as Marist’s fifth president.
Looking at President Kevin C. Weinman’s calendar during his first months at Marist would make anyone’s head spin. On Oct. 4, Weinman took over the role of president from Dennis J. Murray, who led Marist for nearly 40 years. Since then, Weinman has taken part in more than 300 meetings to get to know students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and community members and attended dozens of athletic contests, theatre performances, concerts, and cultural celebrations. He holds open office hours to engage individually with students and hosts weekly lunches with faculty and staff to get to know them better and hear what is on their minds. He also welcomed alumni to Marist’s Homecoming and Reunion celebration on the campus green.“There is so much to experience each and every day and evening at Marist. I have really enjoyed crisscrossing campus to take it all in, meet so many people, and learn as much as I can — and as quickly as I can — about this amazing institution,” he said. He came to Marist from Amherst College, where he served as chief financial and administrative officer, and previously Dartmouth, where he was assistant vice president of finance. But he has no plans for Marist to imitate either institution. “Marist has a unique combination of values, strengths, and assets that no other college or university can match. My primary focus is to build upon the elements that make it distinct.”Education On and Off CampusHis own academic journey encompassed both the liberal arts paired with a career orientation. A first-generation college student, Weinman enrolled at Notre Dame thinking the point of college was to get an accounting degree and a job. Along the way he discovered a love for history and double-majored in accounting and history. He went on to earn an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. He then pursued an MA in history from the University of Colorado and a PhD in history from the University of New Hampshire. Outside of academe, Weinman indulged his passion for exploring, especially for traveling by back roads. By the age of 24 he had visited all 50 states, mostly in a beat-up Toyota 4Runner followed by a two-door Ford Escort once the 4Runner was pushed beyond its breaking point. There was one epic road trip in particular, a three-week camping tour of the West that, perhaps thanks to his budgeting skills, cost under $300 in total (“lots of Wonder bread,” he recalled). He also enjoys competitive outdoor sports and has completed seven marathons, nine half-Ironman triathlons, and 32 half-marathons. Calling himself a “compulsive counter,” he has maintained a spreadsheet since 2004 where he has logged every ride, swim, run, and even kayak paddles (“even though I know that those are supposed to be just for fun,” he quipped). He passed 50,000 total miles in 2021.After college and graduate school, he held a number of senior roles in finance and marketing at corporations before deciding to pursue a career in higher education. It was at Arthur Andersen in Charlotte, NC, that he met his wife, Beth, who worked there as well. She is a contract administrator and associate controller for an engineering research and development company in Amherst, MA. Their son, Alex, 20, is a college student at Colorado College, and their daughter, Brooke, 17, attends high school in Massachusetts. Once Brooke finishes high school, Kevin’s family will join him full-time in Poughkeepsie. For now, Kevin and Beth each feel like they can drive the Taconic with their eyes closed (“though we know that is a very bad idea,” Kevin reassures us) from the many weekend traverses in either direction between Poughkeepsie and Western Massachusetts for mini family reunions.Challenges and OpportunitiesWeinman has boundless enthusiasm for Marist’s future. “Marist has retained the very best of a liberal arts tradition while becoming a leader in pedagogical innovation,” he said, citing programs such as the doctorate in physical therapy and rapid growth across a variety of disciplines where Marist has unique strengths such as cybersecurity, fashion, and sports communication, giving students more exciting options for learning than ever before.But challenges lie ahead, he acknowledged. One obstacle Marist already faces is that the number of high school graduates is declining, especially in the Northeast. Competition is increasingly intense for talented students. Marist will need to continue to distinguish itself from other institutions by telling its story to prospective students around the globe, he said.“We will need to continuously innovate in and out of the classroom to provide our students with an outstanding experience and send them off to do incredible things in the world.”In his previous academic positions, Weinman saw up close the impact that philanthropy can make on an institution, which is why he and Beth, just two months after joining the Red Fox community, made a pledge to give $250,000 to the College. Their generous gift will support a number of priorities designed to improve the quality of a Marist education for all students and make it more accessible and equitable for talented students regardless of their financial situation.Beth and Kevin Weinman“In my short time here, it is already abundantly clear to me that Marist is thriving, yet has the potential to achieve even greater heights,” Weinman said. “One of the ways Marist can do so is to attract, enroll, and retain a diverse group of talented students and enable them to experience the full range of curricular and co-curricular offerings once they arrive, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our pledge is intended to be one small step towards helping all of our students to reach their full potential and get the most out of their Marist experience.”“Members of the Board are extremely pleased that Kevin and Beth have decided to provide not only their time and talents to making Marist the very best it can be, but also the generous contribution of their financial resources,” said Ross Mauri, chair of Marist’s Board of Trustees. “Their support is an early indication that they have a deep commitment to Marist College and have tremendous confidence in its future.”Their pledge will support five institutional priorities:• Expand the Dennis and Marilyn Murray Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to extremely talented students who might not otherwise attend Marist. The fund, now valued at over $3 million, was established in the Murrays’ honor in 2016. • Create the Presidential Internship Support Fund to assist students with financial need in securing internships in fields where such experiences are often unpaid and thus create barriers for students with financial need to pursue careers in these fields. • Create the Presidential Academic Travel Fund to enable students with financial need to enroll in courses that include a travel component. • Create the Presidential First Year Academic Support Fund to enhance the support that incoming students receive to assist in their successful transition to Marist. • Contribute to the Marist Fund. The fund, which raises over $1.3 million annually, is an important means by which Marist alumni, parents, and friends provide financial support to the College. With their pledge, the Weinmans are excited to begin a lifetime of giving to Marist. “Beth and I believe that an investment in Marist College is an excellent one. As president, I will do all I can to ensure that these and other sources of support will have the highest degree of impact on the College and its students,” Weinman said. Kevin and Beth invite Marist alumni, parents, and friends to consider supporting the College in ways and at amounts that are meaningful to them. “With the collective support of its community, Marist can achieve great things,” Weinman said, “and become the very best institution of higher education that it can be.”
Marist 100 is a plan developed at an exciting time in the College’s history. We approach our centennial in 2029 from a position of incredible strength, reflecting upon and celebrating Marist’s remarkable growth and development over its first 100 years; reaffirming our commitment to the ongoing relevance and distinctiveness of our mission, values, and model of higher education; and thinking boldly about the years that lie ahead.Our Strategic Plan will help make a Marist education accessible to a broader range of talented students and will help us carry out our ambitious vision of improving the world through education.Read More
From Classroom Project to Public Opinion Powerhouse
With a history steeped in accuracy and endurance, the Marist Poll and its students have contributed to public discourse for decades, a trend that continues this election cycle – when Americans vote in a historically unique election, witnessing a rematch between the current president, Joe Biden, and his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump.
Known as a steadfast beacon of information, the Marist Poll is responsible for far more than just handling elections. As it continues to adapt and evolve to new challenges, the Poll remains dedicated to its student-centered approach, providing them with unparalleled learning opportunities and experiences.
Origins of the Poll
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO), home of the Marist Poll started as a classroom project in the original Fontaine Hall on campus and blossomed into an educational program that is unique to Marist.
“The project began with a handful of undergraduate students taking exit polls in Dutchess County,” said Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO), home of the Marist Poll. “But because of its accuracy and success, it quickly evolved into a New York State poll and nationally recognized source of public opinion.”
Miringoff founded the Institute in 1978. He is now in his 50th year at Marist and is a sought-after analyst by the media, providing his expertise on polls, elections, and the dynamics of American politics.
Over its 46-year history, thousands of Marist College students have participated in polling, workshops, courses and seminars, field trips, and internships. Today, Marist Poll is proud to have more than 400 students on its team each semester.
Election 2024: What’s at Stake
MIPO has always been on the cusp of experiential learning, and this election cycle is no different. To help students understand the unique nuances of public polls and the 2024 election, the Marist Poll team and Miringoff’s students spent this spring semester writing questions for a series of national Marist Polls.
“The 2024 Presidential Election is unprecedented,” said Miringoff. “Not only has it been decades since our country has had a presidential ‘re-do,’ but one of those candidates is a former president convicted of felonies, and the other is an incumbent with low approval ratings. Public opinion will be important in guiding public debate and helping illuminate shifts in the electorate.”
MIPO published 13 national polls, conducted with NPR and PBS News, and nine battleground state polls published this academic year. They focused on the 2024 presidential election, giving students inside the classroom and the Marist Poll Center a first-hand look at the dynamics of a presidential campaign.
For current student Ethan Solury ’26, poll results have aided his understanding of where Americans are right now. "Everything is all over the place so it’s hard to really know what to expect,” said the political science major. “But the polling data helps us to consider what questions voters still have and what is most important to them as we head toward election day.”
In such a hotly contested election year, emotions are running high, and public polls are center stage. According to Dr. Barbara Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll, students are learning about the science of measuring public opinion and the art of holding space for differing opinions.
“Our students have a great deal of respect for differing political views,” said Carvalho. “Here they can learn from each other and engage in open-minded discussions. The Poll helps them listen and analytically understand the opinions of their peers.”
As director, Carvalho is dedicated to this experience for students, ensuring that the Marist Poll is anchored in intellectual growth and innovation, excellence in education, and focused on community engagement and service.
While the Marist Poll's preparation for the 2024 election has played a lead role recently, she underscores it is just one example of how the Marist Poll embraces Marist College’s commitment to foster democratic participation and an informed citizenry.
“Thousands of Marist students have benefitted and will continue to benefit from the distinctive, hands-on learning opportunities offered through the Marist Poll,” she said. “This includes polling research, analysis, and communication. Students participate in seminars and internships with industry experts and have even attended historic election events.”
Unparalleled Access to American Democracy
This winter, 34 Marist students from a host of majors were given unparalleled access to American democracy during the Marist Poll’s quadrennial trip to New Hampshire for the presidential primaries. Their travel experience included political rallies, national media events, and exclusive question-and-answer sessions with some of the foremost names in political journalism such as Philip Bump, columnist for The Washington Post, Dana Bash, anchor and chief political correspondent for CNN, and Steve Thomma, Executive Director of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Students also went behind the scenes with national news outlets and attended live productions of NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker and MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki. Those anchors also answered students’ questions, as did NBC’s chief political analyst Chuck Todd.
“This trip takes us out of the classroom and puts us right in the middle of the presidential primary,” said Miringoff. “It provides students with a bird’s-eye view of retail politics at its finest – a unique educational experience.”
The Marist Poll’s New Hampshire primary trip has taken place each presidential election cycle since 2012. Two students participated in the first trip, and it has grown exponentially over time.
First-year student and survey assistant Christopher DeVizio ’27 sees trips like this as providing access that will pave the way for his future and career. “As a political science major, I’m getting a front row seat to a historical election process," he said. “Honestly, the opportunity to potentially work for the Marist Poll served as a deciding factor in my decision to attend Marist. I knew that the overall opportunity and the networking aspect could really help to propel my career into politics.”
Alumnus Brian Smith ’95 is living proof that DeVizio’s dreams can become reality. His decades-long career in healthcare has led him to serve as Executive Director of Alliance Development and Strategy Advocacy for Merck. He says the Poll played a huge role in his personal success.
“The Marist Poll was, and is, a recognizable name and gives students a leg up in any interview process or job search,” he said. “For me, it not only opened the door, but it also got me through the door. It’s an unmatched experience."
Embracing Evolution
While experiential learning has and always will play a role in preparing students for life after Marist, Mary Griffith, Associate Director of MIPO, says the field of polling is always changing. This requires the Marist Poll to constantly evolve its methodology in capturing opinion data and its approach to how it reaches different segments of the population.
“The computer and communications revolution has changed over the years, and we have as well,” said Griffith. “We have had to evolve our methods to reach people effectively, capture accurate opinion data, and communicate our poll results.”
The Marist Poll uses a rigorous, scientific-based, multi-frame approach in its survey methodology. It has expanded its projects to include the creation of GenNext, a survey of young Americans that is conceived and conducted by young Americans. The goal of this survey is to compare how the priorities of the nation’s future leaders compare with those currently at the helm.
"There are some existing surveys that focus on younger people, but we thought it would be much more insightful to give young people the chance to decide what topics and questions to ask their peers," said Jay DeDapper, MIPO’s Director of Strategy and Innovation, who led the initiative. With a clear dedication to student centrality, Marist Poll also launched a weekly podcast called, “Poll Hub," which is produced by the Institute’s talented group of student media assistants.
Recent graduate Athen Hollis ’24 began working on the Marist Poll podcast her sophomore year. She grew from researcher to producer, and her duties included researching segments, booking guests, and writing segments and social media posts.
“My combined experience has equipped me to tackle anything that involves social media and research,” she said. “These opportunities are unparalleled and will help me in whatever direction my career takes me.”
About the Marist Institute for Public Opinion
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion, home of the Marist Poll, is a survey research center on the Marist campus. The Marist Poll regularly measures public opinion at the local, state, and national level. Founded in 1978, the Institute was the first college-based research center to include undergraduates in conducting survey research. Today, Marist Poll is proud to have more than 400 students on its team each semester.
The success of the Marist Poll is recognized worldwide by journalists and academics. The Marist Poll has been rated number one for accuracy by Bloomberg Politics and has consistently received an “A” rating from ABC News’ FiveThirtyEight.
University Designation Reflects Breadth of Global Opportunities and Bold Vision for Marist's Next Century
To better reflect the comprehensive, global institution of higher education it has become, Marist College will become Marist University effective Jan. 29, 2025.
"Marist has achieved remarkable success over the past several decades, transforming from a small regional college into a nationally and internationally renowned leader in higher education," President Dr. Kevin C. Weinman said. "Marist University better describes the breadth of opportunities we offer to students today and the vision we have for Marist's next century."
