Magdalen College (1973–2010) Catholic laymen Francis Boucher, John Meehan and
Peter Sampo founded "Magdalen College" in 1973, responding to the
Second Vatican Council's call for the education of lay Catholic leaders, and with the encouragement of the
Bishop of Manchester,
Ernest John Primeau. The college was chartered by the State of New Hampshire August 22, 1973, and enrolled its first students in September 1974. From 1974 to 1991, the college operated at its original campus, a former motel building in
Bedford, New Hampshire. In 1979, there were 70 students and 20 alumni. Under the presidency of co-founder John Meehan, the college followed a policy of standing
in loco parentis and closely supervised students' dress, manners, and behavior in order to maintain a moral atmosphere.
Move to Warner campus In 1988, there were 39 students. New Hampshire state education officials questioned the college's financial stability. A benefactor's support enabled the college to continue operation. Within three years, Magdalen College had purchased and developed a new campus property. From 2008 to 2010, Magdalen College discussed a merger or "unification" with
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in
Merrimack, New Hampshire, but it was cancelled. During the same period, the college underwent a process of reform to shed its image of severity; the student handbook was revised.
The College of Saint Mary Magdalen (2010–2015) In October 2010, the college was renamed "The College of Saint Mary Magdalen." It modified its curriculum to include studies of
ancient Rome, the
Middle Ages, the
Renaissance, and
post-Modern culture, and a four-year cycle of music and art courses. In 2011, the students and faculty of the Erasmus Institute of Liberal Arts, founded by Magdalen's first president
Peter V. Sampo, joined the college, bringing with them the institute's four-year liberal arts curriculum inspired by educators
Donald and
Louise Cowan. However, by the end of the first semester of having two programs, the great books and the Cowan, it became clear that the dual program approach "would not work." The curriculum merger led to the introduction of concentrations and the optional study of Greek into the great books program.
Northeast Catholic College (2015–2019) In January 2015, the college adopted the name "Northeast Catholic College." Coincident with the renaming, the college announced five majors—great books, theology, philosophy, literature, and politics—a new Career Pathways Program, and new co-patronage under
Pope John Paul II. Following the college's hosting of a Napa Institute seminar in New York City in 2014, the college was invited to offer another seminar in July 2015 at the Napa Institute in California. Senior faculty of the college were also invited to lead seminars as part of retreat organized by the journal
First Things in
New York City. The college continued to lead
First Things intellectual retreats in New York from 2016 to 2019. In the fall of 2018, the college added a semester abroad that integrated study in
Rome,
Kraków, and
Norcia as well as a summer program of studies in
Oxford. The college integrated a cyclic and team-taught approach to the
humanities consisting of 48 credits that united the college in a single program of reading across four years.
Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts (2019–2024) On August 12, 2019, it was announced that, in anticipation of the college's 50th anniversary in 2023, the trustees had elected to again take up its founding name, Magdalen College, together with the addendum "of the Liberal Arts". On June 22, 2020, George Harne announced that he would resign as president of Magdalen College to become the Executive Dean for School of Arts & Sciences at the
University of St. Thomas in Houston. Eric Buck took up the role of interim president for one year as the school searched for a new president. In July 2021, Ryan Messmore began as President of Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts. In late 2023, the college announced that it would close after the spring semester of 2024. On its website, college leaders wrote that the college had experienced "financial challenges". • John Meehan, 1977–1998 • Jeffrey Karls, 1998–2011 • George Harne, 2011–2020 • Ryan Messmore, 2021–2024 == Catholic identity ==