ROCHESTER, NY – The Empire 8 announced that Elmira College President Dr. Thomas Meier will serve as president of the conference, succeeding Dr. Charles Edmondson of Alfred University, whose two-year term concluded July 1.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Meier as our next president,” said Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. “He has extensive knowledge of the conference, its member institutions and the NCAA. More importantly he has a great philosophy regarding intercollegiate athletics role in higher education and great vision to help us continue to develop and thrive as a premiere athletic conference.”

Dr. Meier is the 12th president of Elmira, serving in that position since 1987.  He earned a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received a Ph.D degree in English Literature from Columbia University.  When he was in college, he was an intercollegiate athlete and honor student, having been elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Dr. Meier authored a book on Daniel Defoe and more than six dozen scholarly articles on English and American Literature.  He, along with his wife Dr. Mila Meier, is very active and visible on the Elmira College campus and in the greater community.  They can be seen at virtually all of the performing arts events, athletic contests, and other student activities on campus.

Contact Email: tmeier@elmira.edu