Biography

Dr. Lori E. Varlotta serves as the president of Hiram College, a liberal arts institution in Northeast Ohio. Under her leadership, the College has celebrated many firsts and logged in several records in key areas. One of the most impressive, the Tech and Trek mobile initiative that integrates 21st-century technology with an enduring liberal arts curriculum, is described in this blog. Another initiative to be launched in Fall 2017 is the 3-year degree pathway in 20 academic programs. She and her team have also done innovative work in extending Hiram’s liberal arts mission to regional adult students who can participate in a degree-completion program at three Cleveland-area Community Colleges.

The strides that Varlotta and her team are making have fueled a powerful giving campaign at the College. Last year, Hiram recorded the largest fundraising year in its 167-year history, receiving $9.3 million in (cash) gifts. And early this calendar year, it received its largest single cash gift at $2.1 million.

Before coming to Hiram College, Dr. Varlotta spent 11 years at California State University, Sacramento, most recently as their senior vice president for planning, enrollment management, and student affairs. There, she led 31 departments in the areas of enrollment, student life, retention, educational equity, and NCAA Division I athletics.

She publishes and speaks broadly about pressing issues in higher education, such as retention and graduation; planning and budgeting; transparency and accountability; and community, identity, and service.

A proud Pittsburgh native and first-generation college student, Dr. Varlotta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana), a Master of Science degree in cultural foundations of education from Syracuse University (New York), and an interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership and feminist philosophy from Miami University (Ohio).

Dr. Varlotta can be reached at (330) 569-5120 or [email protected].