Bishop William E. Koenig of the Diocese of Wilmington has appointed Patrick Tiernan as the next president of Saint Mark’s High School, effective Aug. 1, according to a statement from the diocesan Catholic Schools Office.
Tiernan was selected from among a pool of 11 applicants for the job and the search committee expressed great confidence in his experience as an administrator, educator and fundraiser.
Tiernan has both the education and the experience necessary to lead Saint Mark’s High School into a successful future, according to the schools office. He earned bachelor’s degree from Merrimack College, master’s degrees from Boston University and Boston College and anticipates completing a doctoral degree from Gwynedd Mercy University by the end of this year. He earned a Certificate of Advanced Educational Specialization in Educational Administration from Boston College and he is licensed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive.
In his professional career, Tiernan has worked in both education and development. He was director of curriculum and instruction at Xavier College Preparatory High School (Calif.), teacher and department chair at Boston College High School (Mass.), department chair at Austin Preparatory School (Mass.), director of development at Theta Delta Chi Educational Foundation (Mass.), and most recently principal at St. Mary Magdalen School in Wilmington.
Over the past four years at St. Mary Magdalen School, working with the Board of Specified Jurisdiction, Tiernan increased the donor base of the Annual Fund by 50 percent and annual gifts by 150 percent.
Tiernan said he looks forward to joining the community of Saint Mark’s High School to build on its anchors of faith, excellence, humility and integrity. He will assume the responsibilities of president beginning Aug. 1.
The Diocese of Wilmington welcomes him to Saint Mark’s High School which “inspires young men and women to create a better world, one more pleasing to God and more helpful to others,” according to the schools office statement.
He’ll join new Saint Mark’s principal John Camponelli, who was hired in the spring. Tiernan replaces Stephen DiGennaro, former interim principal at his alma mater Saint Mark’s this year who stayed on as interim president at the diocesan high school, filling in for Tom Fertal, who earlier this month announced his departure as president.
