Lourdes University appointed their new president during a ceremony Wednesday morning.

David J. Livingston, PhD, will move from his position as vice president for advancement at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Penn. to the role of Lourdes' 9th President . The university says Livingston was unanimously selected after a search that drew candidates from 24 states and Canada. 

Livingston has been in his current position with Mercyhurst University since 2008, and has served the institution in various capacities since 1997. Prior to joining the Mercyhurst community, he taught religious studies at both the high school and college level in Illinois and Tennessee.

“Though we had a talented group of candidates in our presidential search, Dr. Livingston’s experience in education truly resonated with our community,” said Sr. Mary Jon Wagoner, Congregational Minister for the Sisters of St. Francis. “His understanding of both the traditional and non-traditional student population, and accomplishments in institutional growth are what ultimately made him the best fit as Lourdes’ new President.”

Livingston will begin his role as president on July 1, with an inauguration planned during the 2013-2014 academic year.