President's Office

President David C. Danahar is now in his eighth year as the eighth president at Southwest Minnesota State University, having been appointed by Chancellor James McCormick in the summer of 2001. 

Danahar came to Southwest Minnesota State from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

Prior to that he was at Fairfield University, where he was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Prior to that, he was a professor of history, director of general education and associate dean of arts and sciences during a 15-year period at the State University of New York at Oswego. 

A historian by training, with special interests in Central European history and the Hapsburg Empire, Danahar received his undergraduate degree from Manhattan College and his Master of Arts from the University of Massachusetts. After studying at the University of Vienna in Austria and Oxford University in England, he was awarded his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts. 

He is a recipient of numerous fellowships and honors, including awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Council of Learned Societies. 

Dr. Danahar has three children, daughters Deirdre and Rebecca and son Michael. Danahar and his wife Cecelia and son Michael live in Marshall.

President
David C. Danahar
Founders Hall 207
Phone: 507-537-6272
Fax: 507-537-6241
Email: danahar@southwestmsu.edu

Executive Secretary
Lynn Peterson
Founders Hall 209
Phone: 507-537-6272
Fax: 507-537-6241 

Mailing Address
President’s Office
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State Street
Marshall, MN 56258-1598