Marie HardinView profile
Professor
Marie Hardin, Ph.D. serves as the 10th president of Quinnipiac University, assuming office on July 1, 2025. Previously, she was dean of the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State University since 2014, where she also held a professorship. As president, she oversees all academic units including the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, School of Law, and College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Hardin earned her Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in communication from Georgia State University, and a B.A. in theology from Ambassador College. As a first-generation college graduate, she brings personal understanding of educational access challenges. Her research focuses span sports media representation, gender studies in communication, and journalism education. She has significantly influenced communication pedagogy through leadership roles in national accreditation bodies and professional organizations. Dr. Hardin's scholarly impact is reflected in her editorial leadership as co-editor of the Sage journal "Communication & Sport" and two book series in her field. Her administrative approach emphasizes student media development, having created The News Lab at Penn State and championed student media consortiums. George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching (2009) University of Georgia Grady College Distinguished Alumni Scholar (2013) 2024 Scripps Howard Administrator of the Year AEJMC President (2019) President Hardin actively mentors emerging scholars while leading university-wide strategic initiatives. She chairs the national committee for the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the Hearst Foundations Journalism Awards Steering Committee. Her leadership extends to community engagement through partnerships with media organizations and professional development programs for journalism educators. As an avid runner who has completed over 30 marathons, she models resilience and dedication to the Quinnipiac community. Her administrative philosophy emphasizes innovation in career-ready education within an inclusive learning environment that values lifelong learning.












