by Jennifer Marino
The Kansas native assumed the presidency of Molloy in July 2000. In the three years since, the college has undergone a renaissance, with enrollment increasing every year and myriad new programs that serve not only the college but the Rockville Centre community and greater Long Island as well.
In three years, Drew has brought a new dynamic leadership to Molloy College, said Dr. Joseph Metz, chairman of the Board of Trustees and a board member for six years.
Bogner, 47, recently signed a new five-year contract. Since he arrived, he has created a tremendous buzz about Molloy on Long Island, said board member Jeffrey Greenfield. Bogner has visited guidance counselors at Long Island high schools to tell them about Molloy. Enrollment increased 12 percent in 2002-03, and the college currently has approximately 3,100 students, some 900 more than three years ago.
Molloy College produces an excellent teacher, said Rockville Centre Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Johnson, adding that Bogner has made that more well known.
The nursing school has also garnered more attention, according to a former chairman of Molloy-s board, Paul Durnan, who spent 11 years on the board.
The school has gained more attention in the media and attracted more significant speakers since 2000, according to Ed Thompson, vice president for advancement. The Joseph F. Maher Leadership Forum has brought important figures to the college, such as Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, who discussed the war on terror.
In March 2003, Long Island-s first Center for Business Ethics opened at Molloy, and New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer gave the keynote speech at the opening. At a time when stock scandals abound, a program focusing on business ethics is appropriate and important.
The college has also established the Long Island Center for K-12 Science Education, with a $1.5 million state grant, the largest in Molloy-s history. The center will help recruit and develop future science teachers. State Senator Dean Skelos worked with Bogner on the grant.
Working together, we have made key investments in Molloy-s teaching program and created a world-class environment, attracting the best and the brightest, said Skelos. Although he has only been at Molloy for three years, Drew has done a wonderful job building the school-s reputation and its ability to meet the dynamic needs of today-s students. ... Drew has become an invaluable member of the Rockville Centre community, and we are extremely fortunate that he is here.
Bogner has reached out to the education community in Rockville Centre as well. Superintendent Johnson meets with him about four times a year. He doesn-t hide behind a closed door somewhere, said Johnson. Bogner has offered Johnson insights into what makes for success at college, helping the school district establish an appropriate curriculum that emphasizes writing and reading skills.
He has also earned the admiration of Dr. Louise Skolnik, president of the Rockville Centre Education Foundation. The town and the gown need to be one, she said. Bogner was on the board of the foundation in 2001-02 and continues to be an active supporter and advisor. He is currently helping the foundation with the large-scale projects on its agenda.
Another Rockville Centre institution, Mercy Medical Center, tapped Bogner-s expertise by asking him to serve on its Board of Trustees beginning in 2001. He is currently the chair of the governance committee and a member of the planning and human resources committees.
He is also on the boards of Catholic Charities, Rotacare and the Long Island Housing Partnership. He hosts the show Next Generation on Telecare, a forum for young people that has an audience of local high school students and features guests who discuss regional issues.
Drew Bogner serves Molloy College, our community and Long Island with distinction, said Bishop William Murphy, spiritual leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. As a member of the board of Molloy, I know first-hand his talented leadership of this important Catholic college. His commitment to academic excellence and his strong Catholic faith make me proud to be his friend and grateful for his leadership.
The students at Molloy are encouraged to be of service to the community. The college recognizes high-school students for their community service work with the Partners in Leadership Award. Community-service scholarships are offered to encourage service-minded students to attend the college.
Bogner-s leadership abilities are praised by members of his Board of Trustees. He has established, fortified and maintained an open dialogue with the faculty, said Durnan.
During Bogner-s tenure, Molloy has added five acres of land to its campus for new athletic fields, including a lacrosse field for a team that had never had a home game. And the nursing program got a new smart classroom.
Bogner is an intelligent, witty and down-to-earth guy, according to those who work closely with him. He enjoys doing color commentary on the radio for Molloy basketball games. He demands respect but is engaging and easy to be with, said Durnan. Once Durnan had left the board, he says he told Bogner, Now we can be friends.
His greatest gift is his enthusiasm, said Metz.
Bogner moved to Rockville Centre from Wichita with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Ryan, 19, and Lindsay, 17. Ryan attends the Boston Conservatory of Music and Lindsay is a student at Holy Trinity High School.
Bogner was previously dean of community education, chair of the Institute for Teacher Education and a professor of education and biology at Newman University. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy, history and education from the University of Kansas.
