Donald Birx at the announcement of his presidency of Plymouth State University on May 14, 2015. Kaleb Hart ’11 photo.

Ah, summer at PSU. If you’re imagining a quiet, empty campus, and a slower pace for those faculty, staff, and students who are here, think again. With fall bringing with it PSU’s largest incoming class to date, the University has been welcoming new students and their families at orientations throughout June. At the end of June, PSU bid farewell to President Sara Jayne Steen after nine years of leadership, and celebrated the successful conclusion of her Imagine A Way Campaign, which raised $30m for scholarships, fellowships, enhancing campus facilities, and more. And across campus, people of all ages are enjoying PSU’s wide range of community education offerings, from Lego camps and children’s theatre productions to Piano Monster Festivals and the New Hampshire Music Festival.

On July 31, PSU will usher in a new era of leadership when President Donald Birx begins his tenure. Selected as the 15th president of PSU by the University System of New Hampshire in May after a rigorous nationwide search, President Birx has 35 years of leadership experience in academia and industry and holds degrees in business administration, arts and sciences, and engineering. He was most recently chancellor of Pennsylvania State University, Behrend College, in Erie, PA.

Learn more about President Birx and his vision for PSU in the Fall 2015 issue of Plymouth Magazine, available in print and online in November.