It was announced on Sept. 13 that Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Brian Nickerson will be leaving Iona College on Oct. 2.

He will be taking the position of administrative director and leader in the graduate school of The Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Nickerson called his decision to leave Iona “heart wrenching.”

When asked why he was leaving, Nickerson said “[It was] really just an enormous opportunity that came quickly and was too good to ignore.”

Nickerson was prominently involved in Iona’s re-accreditation process through the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as the college’s new strategic plan that was developed last year.

When asked what his biggest achievement was during his time at Iona, Nickerson said, “I think helping reposition the college for greater success.”

Student Government Association President Jaclyn Shearer expressed sadness at Nickerson’s impending departure.

“I will certainly miss working with Dr. Nickerson. In my experiences with him throughout the past few years, he has shown an unwavering commitment to the well being of Iona, and of its students, and has maintained a wonderful presence and sense of humor,” she said in an email announcing the news.

Nickerson served as the interim provost after the previous provost Warren Rosenberg resigned following the revelation of misreported test scores and other student information. He was then appointed to the position of provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs.

Nickerson also served as the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

In that position, he helped Iona acquire the Thomas Paine archives and initiated the creation of the Thomas Paine Institute.