Leadership

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.