(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)May 3, 2006

(Mahwah) –  Joined by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, delegates from other colleges and universities, Ramapo College students, faculty and staff, Dr. Peter Philip Mercer was inaugurated as the fourth president of Ramapo College of New Jersey in an investiture ceremony held today in the Bill Bradley Sports and Recreation Center on the College’s campus.  The theme of his inaugural address was The Enduring Value of a Liberal Education.”  Sir David Williams, vice-chancellor emeritus of Cambridge University (England) and Dr. Mercer’s thesis advisor when he was a student, was the guest speaker.   Thomas Zelante, Esq., chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees, presided.

Prior to the ceremony, Dr. Mercer’s colleagues accompanied him in a procession from the College’s Arch, Ramapo’s historic symbol, to the sports and recreation center.   The procession was led by musician Peter De. Vecchio and the Conservatory Brass, representing the Mahwah Township Schools.

In his first inauguration of a college president since becoming governor earlier this year, Governor Corzine was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree, also his first as governor. 

Dr. Mercer previously served both as dean of the law school and vice president (administration) and general counsel at the University of Western Ontario, where he was a professor of law. He also served as acting vice president for external affairs at Western Ontario and acting director of development.

A former visiting research scholar at the University of Michigan, he has also been a faculty member at the University of Calgary, the University of Detroit and the University of Windsor.  This past year, Rotary International appointed Mercer a Paul Harris Fellow.  He has received Teacher of the Year awards at the University of Calgary and the University of Western Ontario, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of University Business Officers.

He is the editor of Products Liability in Canada (Oceana, 1988) and co-author of An Introduction to Business Associations in Canada (Carswell, 1984).  In addition, he has authored numerous articles, book chapters and reviews.  His recent publications have focused on the legal profession and professional ethics.

Dr. Mercer has conducted research studies commissioned and published by the Canadian government.  Among the agencies were the Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario, the Law Reform Commission of Canada and The Ontario Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan.  He was the principal investigator heading an interdisciplinary team on a multi-year Legal Ethics Theoretical and Empirical Study funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, an L.L.M. at the University of Cambridge and an L.L.B. at the University of Western Ontario, where he was awarded honors in English and philosophy.  Recently, he was on a partial study leave serving as principal consultant to the Ontario Ministry of Finance on integrated supply chain management in the Ontario public sector.

Ramapo College is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as number one among public comprehensive colleges in the north.  In addition, an article in the February 2006 issue of Kiplinger’s magazine named Ramapo College among the top 100 public colleges and universities.  The article, Best values in public colleges,” included the sub-head,  Yes, you can still get a first-class education at a reasonable price.”  Ramapo College also is one of 224 select colleges and universities profiled by The Princeton Review in the 2006 edition of The Best Northeastern Colleges.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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