Houghton's Mullen Takes Over as Chair of E8 Presidents Council
ROCHESTER, NY - Dr. Shirley Mullen, president of Houghton College, has begun her appointment as chair of the President’s Council of the Empire Athletic Conference (E8).
Dr. Mullen was elected unanimously when the Council met for its annual meeting in December 2016. Her two-year term as chair began July 1 as she replaced former chair Dr. Margaret Drugovich, president of Hartwick College.
“President Mullen received the unanimous support of the Presidents of the Empire 8 Conference to serve as our next chair,” said President Drugovich. “She is an experienced President with great leadership qualities who values the role of athleticism in the life of the scholar-athlete. I look forward to supporting her in any way necessary in my role a past-chair of the Conference.”
Dr. Mullen became the fifth president of Houghton College in June 2006, after serving as Provost at Westmont College from 2002-2006. She is the first female President of Houghton and in 2012 was named one of Christianity Today’s “50 Women You Should Know.”
“We are excited to have President Mullen continue the excellent leadership of the Empire 8,” said Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “Dr. Mullen is a dynamic leader that holds Empire 8 and Division III values as part of he core beliefs. The Empire 8 is in great hands under her direction.”
Dr. Mullen’s trademark in higher education is her commitment to high ideals and practical impact. She has extended Houghton’s longstanding reputation for high academic quality; for preparing graduates with moral and spiritual substance; and for inviting students to service and global engagement.
Dr. Mullen helped transition Houghton athletics from NAIA to NCAA-Division III which resulted in a gift from Kim and Terry Pegula that led to a new $23 million major athletic complex at Houghton College in 2014. The 115,000 square-foot Kerr-Pegula Field House can seat well over 6,000, features an eight-lane track, six full tennis courts, weight rooms, locker rooms, offices, conference rooms and more.
The Empire 8 is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its nine member schools compete at the Division III level.
Houghton participates in 18 sports as part of the E8: baseball, softball, field hockey, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women's soccer, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s tennis, and women's volleyball.