President Gordon to step down; accepts position 
as president and dean of William Mitchell College of Law

January 20, 2015

DEFIANCE, Ohio - Defiance College announced today that President Mark C. Gordon will be stepping down as its 18th president on June 30 in order to accept a position as President and Dean at William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota.

“I have absolutely adored my time as president at Defiance College,” said Gordon, “and it was a very difficult decision for me to even contemplate taking another position. However, the two jobs I have loved most in my career have been president and dean, and this gives me the opportunity to be both at the same time. In fact, there are fewer than two dozen such positions in the country, so you can imagine how intrigued I was when I was recruited for this opportunity.

“I could not be prouder of all that we have accomplished working together at Defiance College since I started as president in 2009. I want to publicly thank the trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni all of whom are so committed to this wonderful college and who played such an important role in the progress of these past five and one-half years. I will also always appreciate the warm welcome that the entire Defiance community has given me and my family.”

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire Defiance College community, I want to thank Mark Gordon for his dedication, commitment, and hard work on behalf of DC,” said Edd Buhl, Chairman of the Defiance College Board of Trustees. “Mark’s many accomplishments are a testament to the tremendous service he has provided to Defiance. Thanks to his creative and visionary leadership, we are now a stronger and better college with an even brighter future.”

Gordon has led the College during a period of significant change and progress, including achievements such as the construction of the George M. Smart Athletic Center; the reintroduction and growth of the Music program; the creation of Project 701 (a separately legally-incorporated student-run non-profit); successful completion of the $26 million capital campaign for the College; the introduction of the Imagine Initiatives to give students international and domestic travel opportunities; starting the DC lacrosse, swimming, wrestling, and marching band programs; the development and introduction of a new Core Curriculum; the creation of the Defiance College Partnership for Jobs; numerous infrastructure improvements (including installation of smart boards and new technology in the classrooms, renovations to McReynolds Hall, turf, new bleachers in the Weaner Center, redone E. Stevens Dix tennis courts, energy efficiency investments, etc.); increased diversity on campus; creation of numerous hands-on experiences to link the classroom and the real world (such as the Cold Case Initiative, the Business Advantage program, enhanced collaboration with Defiance City Schools, etc.); significant expansion in support services for students (including tutoring, counseling, peer mentoring, etc.); creation of the new ASD Affinity Program for college students with autism, and much more.

During Gordon’s tenure, the College has also improved its financial position, decreasing its long-term outstanding debt by over 30 percent while significantly increasing the number of students attracted to DC from all around the country. The average number of incoming full-time freshmen over the past five years has been higher than for any five-year period since 1980. Gordon has also been known for his close mentoring relationships with students and for welcoming students to the President’s House for study tables, movie nights, dinners, ice cream, and ping-pong games.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.