Mike Willis, the newly appointed head football coach at Marist College, is gearing up for his first official season leading a Division I team this fall, determined to take the Marist football program to new heights and eager to showcase the school's dedicated student-athletes with the world.
"For me, when considering this role, it became less about why Marist and more about why not Marist," said Willis. "Marist is a tremendous school that does an unbelievable job of blending a liberal arts education with educational experiences and opportunities that are going to set students up for success, not just for a great four years for the but for the next 40 years of their lives.”
The New Jersey native joins Marist after nine seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton University, his alma mater. His hire follows the Nov. 29, 2023, retirement of Jim Parady, who led the Marist program for 32 years and had been the longest-tenured active head coach in Division I football.
A former offensive lineman, Willis admits he was drawn to the new position because of the unique qualities of the College’s mission, emphasizing Marist's commitment to providing a well-rounded education and a full DI athletic experience.
"Coach Willis's emphasis on success on and off the field makes him an excellent addition to the Marist community," said Marist President Kevin Weinman. "He joins Marist at an exciting time as our new strategic plan infuses athletics throughout many of its priorities and the College is positioned for a major leap forward. I am convinced Marist's football program will reach new heights under his leadership, building upon all that Coach Parady, his staff, and our student-athletes have accomplished."
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Willis emphasizes the importance of recruiting and developing the best student-athlete while creating a strong and cohesive team. He aims to build a program that the Marist community can be proud of.
"We want to recruit and retain the best student-athletes in the country and develop them to reach their full potential on and off the field," Willis said. "When people watch us play, I hope they'll see a football team that is fast, physical, and together in everything that they do."
Willis was Princeton's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. During that time, the Tigers went 22-8 overall with a 15-6 record in Ivy League play while Willis coached 23 All-Ivy League players. In 2021, Princeton won the Ivy League championship, went 9-1 overall, set a program record with 10 First Team Ivy League selections, and led the Ancient Eight in scoring at 33.4 points per game.
As Willis embarks on this new chapter and looks ahead toward the upcoming football season, he is eager to make his mark on the program. His passion for football and dedication to his players is evident.
Willis shared, "My time at Marist has been exceptionally rewarding. The student-athletes, faculty, administrators, and Marist community have made me, and my family, feel at home. I am so energized by everyone's investment and excitement. I wake up every day thrilled to be the head football coach at Marist!"
Q&A - Marist Magazine chats with Kevin and Beth Weinman about the Fund for Equity
In April, Kevin and Beth Weinman announced a second gift pledge to the Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience (the “Equity Fund”). This $500,000 pledge augments the founding gift of $250,000 they made in December 2021. Since then, over 300 students with demonstrated financial need have received grants allowing them to enroll in “travel courses” or take unpaid internships vital for career preparation. The Weinmans’ gifts, alongside hundreds of others from Marist trustees, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends, as well as future gifts to the Fund will help ensure support remains available to Marist students.
Q: What inspires you to give to Marist?
K & B: Everyone in the Marist community – students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents – has inspired us from our very first day. We believe deeply in this College – its achievements to date, and its promise for the future. Gifts to Marist have tremendous impact on the student experience. Marist has long been an institution on the rise – a College worth supporting – and the ambitious vision outlined in Marist 100 charts a path to even greater heights. We are honored to be here and to join so many others in providing financial support to help Marist reach its fullest potential.
Q: Why the Equity Fund?
K: Because I’ve seen that the Equity Fund works! Students often tell me how enriching and rewarding their internships are in their career preparation. Also, I recently returned from drop-ins to three travel courses, one in Athens and two in London, and was blown away by the rich learning environment. Student and faculty enthusiasm was off the charts!
Also, the Equity Fund hits upon all three pillars of Marist 100. Travel courses and internships speak to “academic vibrancy” by giving students immersive learning opportunities and faculty the opportunity to design innovative curricula, to “student centrality” by directing 100% of these resources to support an outstanding student experience, and to “expansive community,” both by bringing Marist to the world and the world to Marist and by attracting immensely talented faculty and students from all backgrounds to the Marist community.
Spring 2024 Attachment Course: Shakespeare in London
B: As someone who was fortunate to travel extensively throughout the former Soviet Union and Europe before and during college, I find Marist’s travel courses, which provide life-changing experiential learning opportunities, intriguing. These experiences opened my eyes to people and cultures beyond our own. I also know from our son Alex’s experience that some students prefer a short immersive international visit rather than semester or year-long study abroad, and these courses allow several hundred Marist students to do just that, every year.
Spring 2024 Attachment Course: Democracy in Greece
Q: What would you say to others who are considering their own forms of support to Marist?
K & B: As they consider a gift to Marist, we encourage alumni, parents, and friends to think about what inspires them most about a Marist education and what would bring them the most satisfaction from a supporting gift. For us, it’s the Equity Fund, and, of course, we invite others to support the Equity Fund as well. But we understand others might prefer to support any number of other Marist 100 priorities. In any instance, a gift of any size makes a difference. It shows confidence in Marist and its mission and makes a huge difference for our students. We invite everyone to consider joining us in supporting Marist College, in ways and at amounts meaningful to them.
Support the Presidential Equity Fund by making your gift today!
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.
New members help Marist achieve its vision of improving the world through education
Marist College is excited to announce the addition of four distinguished individuals to its Board of Trustees. Formally elected during the Board’s December 9 annual meeting, these accomplished professionals come from diverse backgrounds and industries, bringing a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to helping Marist achieve its vision of improving the world through education.
“We are delighted to welcome these new members,” said Ross Mauri ’80/P’15, Chair of the Marist Board of Trustees. “Through their collective expertise and dedication to Marist they will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the College as we bring to life the many bold initiatives outlined in our new strategic plan, Marist 100.”
Added Marist President Kevin Weinman: “I am particularly excited about the variety of ways this distinguished group of new trustees has been involved with the College – as parents, alumni of both undergraduate and graduate programs, through athletics and many other elements of the Marist experience, as advisory board members, and as mentors to our students. I look forward to the many ways they will bring their extensive professional expertise into the board room, and to working with them to bring Marist to greater heights.”
