The Victor family at the announcement of his appointment: Son-in-law Colin Russ; daughter Courtney Victor Russ; President Michael Victor and his wife, Craige Pepper Victor, holding granddaughter Reagan Russ; son Wade Root; and daughter Sloane Victor. Michael Victor named Mercyhurst’s 12 th president
Michael T. Victor, J.D., LL.D., takes ofce as Mercyhurst University’s 12th president in August. While his vision for the school will unfold over the coming months and years, he wasted no time taking his frst action. At the May 22 news conference announcing his appointment, he told the community he had secured a donor to replace the carillon in the O’Neil Tower. Out of commission for the last couple of years, the bells are again ringing out the hours this summer. The Mercyhurst Alma Mater plays each afternoon at 2. The gesture makes clear both Victor’s appreciation for Mercyhurst history and tradition and his expectation for rebirth and renewal going forward. Victor, who served as dean of Mercyhurst’s Walker School of Business from 2002 to 2006, has been president of Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, for the past nine years. Throughout his tenure there, he maintained his family home in Erie, where he is widely respected as a civic and business leader, attorney, entrepreneur and fundraiser.
- “This is an amazing leadership opportunity at this stage of my career as well as a chance to come home to an institution and city I love,” said Victor. “I am deeply honored to be named the 12th president of Mercyhurst University and am excited to engage the entire Mercyhurst community in creating a future that sustains the university's distinct mission in an ever changing higher education environment.” While at Lake Erie College, Victor doubled enrollment, raised more than $40 million for the institution, and launched 12 new academic programs, including a master of physician assistant studies in partnership with University Hospitals and an MBA graduate program. In addition, he grew the athletics program from 11 to 19 varsity sports, including a new football team, and made the transition from NCAA Division III to Division II. He says he used strategies at Lake Erie that he’d already seen succeed at Mercyhurst, especially the creation of niche academic programs and the expansion of athletics.
Victor, a summa cum laude graduate of St. Vincent College, earned his juris doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law. He is the former CEO of Pyramid Industries, and began his professional career as an attorney in the corporate law department of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton in Erie. He is married to Jean Craige Pepper, who is frst vice president and senior fnancial adviser at RBC Wealth Management and serves on the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. She and three of their four grown children (and one granddaughter) were on hand for the announcement of his return to Mercyhurst.
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