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David C. Danahar was appointed Wednesday as president of Southwest State University in Marshall by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees.

Danahar, 59, is provost and vice president for academic affairs at Loyola University in New Orleans, La. His appointment was recommended to the MnSCU board by Chancellor Morris J. Anderson.

"His consensus-building leadership style and experience match the needs of Southwest State University very well," Anderson said. "He recognizes Southwest State as a special place with regard to the liberal arts and professional studies, and he also sees the need to reach out to the community and the region. He will bring a very balanced approach."

In his current position, Danahar has overall leadership and administrative responsibility for planning, budgeting and academic programming at Loyola University, a Roman Catholic Jesuit institution with an enrollment of about 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students.

Danahar, also a history professor, has a doctorate in history from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where he also earned his master's degree. He holds a bachelor's degree from Manhattan College, Bronx, New York.

"We are fortunate to find someone with Dr. Danahar's broad experience and strong background in both the liberal arts and campus administration and leadership," said Board of Trustees Chair Michael M. Vekich.

Danahar's appointment is effective July 1, subject to completion of an employment contract. He will succeed Interim President Dennis Nielsen, who is retiring June 30.

Southwest State University, founded in 1963 as the newest of the four-year MnSCU institutions, has a projected full-year-equivalent enrollment of 3,268 students in the 2000-2001 academic year. The university offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Danahar came to Loyola University in July 1992 as vice president for academic affairs and history professor. In January 1994 he also was appointed provost of the university, which has undergraduate and graduate programs, a law school and a City College offering evening and weekend classes.

Previously Danaher served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., from 1985; and he held several administrative positions at State University of New York in Oswego after joining that campus in 1970, including acting associate dean of Arts and Sciences from 1983-85 and director of general education from 1979-85.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is made up of 35 state universities, community and technical colleges with a projected full-year-equivalent enrollment of 118,000 students.

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