Providence, RI -- Providence College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P., Ph.D., has announced the appointment of Hugh F. Lena, Ph.D. as vice president for academic affairs at Providence College. A highly respected faculty member and academic administrator, Dr. Lena has been serving as the acting vice president for academic administration at the College since July 2004.

A member of the College faculty for more than 30 years, Dr. Lena is a professor of sociology who previously served as president of the Faculty Senate and as associate director of the Feinstein Institute for Public Service. He is a former chair of the Department of Sociology and has served on numerous College committees.

Dr. Lena holds a doctoral degree in sociology from the University of Connecticut, where he also earned a master's degree in sociology. He earned his undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Lena is the author and co-author of a number of books and chapters in sociology texts, as well as articles in professional journals, on topics including service-learning and health and social welfare issues.

Dr. Lena's appointment comes as the result of a national search that, in the words of Father Shanley, "generated some strong external candidates for the position." He continued, "I believe that Dr. Lena's accomplishments as interim vice president of academic administration were a powerful argument to retain his services. I have found him to be an extraordinary administrator: he is wise, hard-working, congenial, devoted to the mission of the college, and widely respected by his peers. After examining the field, I can say with confidence that we already had the best person in the position."

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