Brian Pellinen

Interim President Brian Pellinen is a seasoned higher education leader who brings more than 30 years of work experience in colleges and universities to his new role at Montserrat. He has worked in both public institutions and private, 4-year schools and community colleges, in enormous universities and in micro academic centers. Prior to Brian’s appointment as the Interim President in January 2023, he was the Dean of Academic Affairs.

In that position, Brian was responsible for building the college’s strategic plan, leading Montserrat’s accreditation responsibilities, working with faculty to build new academic programs, and ensuring that the college had the necessary support systems in place to make sure that students could be as successful as possible while in school and after graduation.

Pellinen has been credited with helping to lead the college through the challenges of COVID-19, landing grants and gifts that increased internship and mentorship opportunities, the successful hiring of new full-time faculty members and the creation of new areas of study. Under Brian’s leadership in Academic Affairs, the college achieved a ranking for the first time by the US News and World Report guide to the country’s best colleges, gaining notice in the “North Region” and “Social Mobility” categories.

Brian brings a unique perspective to the interim presidency role as he sees both the operational and academic vision for the college. Having deep connections to the Montserrat community, Pellinen said, “This institution is far less hierarchical, leaving individuals less isolated, and therefore, far more connected. This has a profound impact on how and what students learn, who they learn from, and how the organization operates. All of it makes Montserrat an incredible place to live, study, learn, make, and work.”

He holds a Masters degree from the York University, in Toronto, Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pellinen is also an active visual artist and writer with recent shows in Massachusetts and theater performances produced in Washington DC’s Fringe Festival.