Thursday, January 16, 2014
J Michael Hickey

J. Michael Hickey will take over leadership of the Manchester campus of the University of New Hampshire effective Jan. 22, 2014. Provost Lisa MacFarlane announced that Hickey, who has close ties to the state's business community and brings hands-on experience to building the state's workforce needs, has been appointed interim dean.

For more than two decades, Hickey served in a range of leadership positions for Verizon, including his seven-year tenure as president of Verizon New Hampshire. He most recently directed Verizon's policy development and advocacy in Washington on issues ranging from critical asset protection to cyber security and emergency preparedness as the company's vice president of government affairs for national security policy. Throughout his career, Hickey has played an integral role in the company's transitions from New England Telephone Company to NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and, ultimately, Verizon.

"The faculty and staff at the University of New Hampshire in Manchester are committed to developing programs and relationships that address New Hampshire's workforce needs and enable our students to make vital contributions to their communities and to the economic future of the state," said MacFarlane. "Mike brings extraordinary experience and community connections to that mission. He has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the New Hampshire business and nonprofit sectors and to the university. I am delighted he has agreed to serve in this position."

Hickey, 62, lives in Newmarket. Prior to joining the telecommunications industry, Hickey was director of the state Division of Economic Development and executive director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has held several regional planning positions in New Hampshire's Seacoast and North Country regions. He is a 1973 graduate of UNH where he studied sociology. He later served on UNH's Alumni Association board of directors for eight years, including a two-year term as president. Hickey was named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and N.H. Business Leader of the Year by Business N.H. Magazine in 2001.

"The UNHM campus has a rich history of service to students, families and citizens of the Merrimack Valley and state," said Hickey. "We will continue to expand and evolve our presence to ensure that both current and aspiring students have access to a quality education and even greater opportunity for success after graduation. Our success as an institution will be measured by how our students contribute to the economic, social, cultural and civic leadership of our state and the nation. I've been an advocate for UNHM as a businessman, non-profit leader and alumni volunteer. I'm honored to have this opportunity to work with Associate Dean Dan Reagan and outstanding faculty and staff as well as the campus' advisory board in moving UNHM forward."

UNH Manchester has approximately 1,200 students studying in 17 undergraduate and 14 graduate/certificate programs. As UNH's urban location, programs are closely tied to workforce needs in the region and in the state. Located in the heart of the I-93 corridor, the college brings the resources of the state's flagship university to the region at an affordable, convenient commuter campus in the city's historic mill yard.

Originally published by:

UNH Today

  • Written By:

    Staff writer | Communications and Public Affairs