Anthony S. Caprio, Ph.D.

Anthony S. Caprio, Ph.D.

Dr. Anthony S. Caprio, scholar, educator, and administrator, served as the fifth President of Western New England University from 1996-2020. After a tenure of 24 years, he was appointed President Emeritus in August 2020.

Dr. Caprio received the B.A. degree in 1967 from Wesleyan University, where he was named to Phi Beta Kappa, the M.A. from Columbia University in 1969, and the Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1973. He undertook his studies also in Paris. He was awarded the honorary bachelor’s degree from Western New England University in 2000.

For over 50 years, he has demonstrated his commitment to higher education through service as a teacher and administrator in a wide range of institutions, both private and public. Prior to his appointment as President of Western New England University, Dr. Caprio served for seven years as provost and professor of language and literature at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta where he was responsible as chief academic officer for all matters related to faculty and to undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Dr. Caprio led the development of the University’s strategic plan and its subsequent implementation, including the innovative integration of the institution’s liberal arts curriculum within its urban setting. His efforts with regard to internationalization of the University resulted in numerous exchange agreements with universities in Europe, Japan, and South America.

Before joining Oglethorpe University, President Caprio held administrative and faculty positions at several institutions. From 1980-1989, he was professor and administrator at American University in Washington, D.C. where he was responsible for faculty and staff in languages and literatures, area and foreign studies, linguistics, and the English Language Institute. He helped establish study abroad centers in Poland and in Argentina with the American University World Capitals Program, held academic program oversight of American University in Rome, and developed interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs with other units of the University. At American University he was recognized with the Administrator-Faculty Award for Outstanding Performance. Prior to American University, he served at Cedar Crest College in Pennsylvania and Lehman College of the City University of New York.

Listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in the East, and Who’s Who in American Education, Dr. Caprio is a noted language scholar who has written numerous books in the areas of language and literature, including Reflets de la Femme (1973), and the widely-used college text French for Communication (1985), now in its third edition. His publications in refereed journals and special editions include “Senancour” in A Critical Bibliography of French Literature: Nineteenth Century (Syracuse University Press), articles in Columbia Dictionary of Modern European Literatures (Columbia University Press), in the Canadian Modern Language Review, and the Modern Language Journal. His reviews of books have appeared in dozens of scholarly and professional journals, such as Romanic Review, French Review, Library Journal, Modern Language Journal, and Nineteenth Century French Studies.

President Caprio is a frequent speaker on diverse aspects of higher education at regional, national, and international conferences, as well as at numerous colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. He is a frequent consultant and evaluator for numerous colleges, universities, and national educational organizations.

Dr. Caprio has served on numerous boards nationally and regionally: Tuition Exchange (Director, 1994- and Executive Committee, 1997- ), a not-for-profit consortium of over 650 colleges and universities that provides tuition exchange for employees of member institutions; American Association of University Administrators (Director, 1996-99); Willie Ross School for the Deaf in Longmeadow, MA (Trustee, 1999-2017); Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, MA (Visitor, 1999-2002); Executive Committee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (1999-2002, 2008-09); National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Higher Education Act Reauthorization Task Force (2000-2003) and NAICU Committee on Student Aid (2001-2004); Greater Springfield (MA) Convention & Visitors Bureau (Director, 1999-2005); Springfield Symphony Orchestra (Trustee, 1998-2004); Springfield Library and Museums Association (Corporator, 1998- ); Springfield School Volunteers (Director, 2000-2006); Chairman of the Leadership Council of the Greater Springfield Mentoring Partnership (1998-2003); Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership (Director, 2001-2010); Community United Way of Pioneer Valley, Inc. (Director, 2002-2005), with service on the Leadership Cabinet (1998-2000,2004-06, 2008-09) United Way Campaign; Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (Director, 2000- ) with membership on the Marketing Committee (2002-2008); President of Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield (2000-2002, 2004- ); Hampden Bank (Corporator, 2004-2007); and Hampden Bank Foundation (2007-2015); Association for Community Living (Corporator, 2006- ).

Appointed as public member to the Accreditation Committee of the American Bar Association (2002-08), Dr. Caprio reviewed and determined with the Committee the accreditation status of ABA-accredited law schools; appointed Vice Chairman of the Committee (2006-08); Chairman, Subcommittee on Foreign Study Programs (2005-08); Chairman, Foreign Programs Committee (2009-11), with membership (2009-12); and ABA Standards Review Committee (2013-18). His service to the ABA beyond these Committees includes numerous evaluative site visits of law programs in the United States and abroad.

Dr. Caprio was named to The National Faculty in 1977. (“National Faculty have demonstrated an unusual record of accomplishment as teachers, writers, administrators, and scholars, and possesses abilities to work effectively with teachers and administrators at all levels of education.”)

In 1996 Dr. Caprio was elected by the directors of Phi Beta Kappa to the ranks of Phi Beta Kappa Fellow, limited to members of Phi Beta Kappa who have demonstrated by their distinguished achievements devotion to the ideals of Phi Beta Kappa.

Dr. Caprio joined Dutcher, LLC as Higher Education Consultant (2020- ).