Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

January 11, 2007 issue

New Administrators Join Lees-McRae College

Lees-McRae College has named three new administrators in recent months. Debra Hollar Thatcher, Ph.D., became the provost and dean of faculty in August; Tom Balistrieri, Ed.D., became dean of students in August; and Bill Sliwa will join the college as vice president for enrollment management on January 15.

Debra Hollar Thatcher, Ph.D. – Provost & Dean of Faculty

A 1973 graduate of Morganton High School, Dr. Debra Thatcher earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s and doctorate in early childhood education from the University of South Carolina.

Before entering the field of higher education, Thatcher had an extensive K-12 teaching career including experiences in Wyoming, Alaska’s mainland and the Aleutian Islands, South Carolina and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Thatcher was also a professor at Salisbury University in Maryland and most recently the associate dean for the College of Professional Studies and the director of the School of Education at Northern Michigan University.

At Lees-McRae, Thatcher serves as the chief academic officer, working closely with the president and faculty and overseeing all academic programs and instruction at the college.

Tom Balistrieri, Ed.D. – Dean of Students

Dr. Tom Balistrieri comes to Lees-McRae as dean of students after 16 years in counseling at three institutions: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Minnesota-Morris and Briarcliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Balistrieri earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, his master’s in counseling at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., and his doctorate in education at Mississippi State.

Balistrieri heads the student development division at the college, overseeing campus life, housing, service and the campus community.

Bill Sliwa – Vice President for Enrollment Management

Bill Sliwa is coming to Lees-McRae from Utica College in New York where he served as director of admissions. At Lees-McRae, Sliwa will serve as the vice president for enrollment management where he will oversee the admissions and enrollment process and serve as dean of freshmen.

Sliwa earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Buffalo State College in New York.