Leadership - Beacon College

Leadership - Beacon College
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Founded in 1989, Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, stands as a shining beacon of hope and opportunity for students with learning disabilities.
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Intellectual challenge is at the heart of a Beacon education. We take this very seriously, but we are also very practical about it. Our 10 bachelor’s degree programs are intended to prepare our students to find worthy work in today’s global marketplace.  Additionally, we encourage students to explore their diverse interests through one or more of our 17 minors.
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“Pursuing the life abundant” is the pervading theme that infuses everything we do at Beacon College. It’s something we take very seriously indeed.
At Beacon, you’ll be able to be the most that you can be. Both within the classroom and far beyond it, we nurture a vivacious learning laboratory that calls upon you to seek and cherish all of life’s richness.
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About
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President George J. Hagerty
A passionate leader in collegiate education, Dr. George J. Hagerty continues to transform how higher education institutions around the globe serve students with learning differences. Appointed President of Beacon College in 2013, he has cultivated an environment in which students are fully and holistically supported, positioned to pursue meaningful work and independent lives. His vision and dedication have driven Beacon College’s transformative growth — expanding both the number and reach of students drawn to the Beacon Experience, the campus itself, its dynamic culture, and the depth and rigor of its undergraduate learning opportunities.
Transformative Growth
Under Dr. Hagerty’s leadership, Beacon College has experienced historic growth in both enrollment and student success. Over a decade, the undergraduate population has expanded from 187 students to more than 500. At a time when only 29% of collegians with learning differences nationally graduated within four years — and more than half faced unemployment — Beacon College distinguished itself: 63% of its students earned their degrees in four years, and 71.4% secured employment or pursued advanced studies following graduation. These outcomes reflect a deeply intentional approach to student support, persistence, and purpose.
Dr. Hagerty has also broadened the Beacon experience well beyond the classroom. He launched Beacon’s study abroad programs,
Beacon in Tuscany
and
Beacon in Tokyo
; guided the College’s
athletic program
into membership in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association; expanded residential and academic facilities; and helped create gardens and green spaces that invite students to relax, connect, and recharge. He currently leads the effort to build a new on-campus
Intramural & Fitness Center
. In parallel, he has strengthened
career pathways
for neurodivergent students by cultivating corporate partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, including Dell Technologies, The Walt Disney Company, Johnson & Johnson, JetBlue, and others — helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable talent pipeline.
Prior to his presidency at Beacon College, Dr. Hagerty served as president of University Advisors International, Inc., a U.S.-based investment and consulting firm that advised institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and corporations across four continents. Earlier, he was provost and university professor at the newly established Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece. From 1995 to 2009, he served as president of Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, where he now holds the distinction of president emeritus.
As a scholar and educator, Dr. Hagerty has held faculty and administrative appointments at his alma maters, Stonehill College and Harvard University. His teaching, research, and writing focus on government, special education policy and finance, educational innovation, and nonprofit management. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles, book chapters, and policy papers in these fields.
Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Dr. Hagerty was appointed to a series of senior roles in the newly formed U.S. Department of Education, culminating in his service as Chief of Compliance and Enforcement in the Office of Special Education Programs. Since leaving federal service, he has advised both Democratic and Republican administrations on matters related to education policy, state–federal relations, and public finance.
Dr. Hagerty has also played a significant leadership role in national higher education governance. His service includes chairing the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, as well as serving as chair of the Presidents Council of the NCAA (Division II) and on the NCAA’s Executive Committee. He has also served on the board of the American Council on Education and was appointed to its Commission on Leadership and Institutional Effectiveness.
Leadership
Richard Killion
Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategy
352-638-9801
rkillion@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Kevin Reilly
Vice President of Academic Affairs
352-638-9777
kreilly@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Dana Manzo
Vice President of Student Affairs
352-638-9751
dmanzo@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Fred Gore
Chief Financial Officer
352-365-1135
fgore@beaconcollege.edu
Daron McNab
Chief Technology and Security Officer
dmcnab@beaconcollege.edu
Dr.
Oksana Hagerty
Dean of the Robey Center for Student Success
352-638-9780
ohagerty@beaconcollege.edu
Samantha Gordon
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing
sgordon@beaconcollege.edu
Darryl E. Owens
Associate Vice President of Communication and Engagement
352-638-9789
dowens@beaconcollege.edu
Board of Trustees
Beacon’s Board of Trustees, along with the College’s employees, are entrusted with envisioning a present and future that both safeguards the College’s singular undergraduate mission and anticipates evolving student expectations.
Trustees
Sarah Flanagan, MAT – Chair
John R. Rogers – Vice Chair
Lynne P. Brown, Ph.D. – Secretary/Treasurer
Jennifer L. Braaten, Ed.D.
Peter Giamalva
John R. Gill, MBS
Mark J. Griffin, Ph.D.
Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D.
Jim Hundrieser, Ph.D.
Ryan McCabe
Alfred H. Moffett, M.D.
Janet Morrow
Debbie Resnick, MA, SPL, CCC
Charo Uceda, MA
Trustees Emeriti
Bruce Vincent, MA (2009-2016)
Richard O. Williams, Ph.D. (2002-2014)
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