Penn State Bellisario College of Communications dean Marie Hardin has been named the next president of Quinnipiac University, the school announced Thursday. Hardin will take over the role effective July 1, 2025.

“Quinnipiac is truly a values-drive institution, with outstanding leadership and a faculty and staff who are committed to student success. I find that inspiring and motivating. It’s also a university that isn’t afraid to innovate. I love the energy, collaborative spirit, and work ethic that define QU,” Hardin said in a statement.

Hardin had led the Bellisario College since 2014, helping to rebrand the school after a $30 million gift from Donald P. Bellisario and leading the creation of the Bellisario Media Center. She worked at Penn State for over 20 years.

Hardin’s name was briefly on the national scene in 2019 when she got involved in a public spat with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. Portnoy challenged Hardin to a public debate, which Champs Downtown offered to host, after Hardin said in an NBC News article that Barstool put forth a conservative ideology with portrayals of hypermasculine, sports-loving men and hypersexualized, submissive women.

Located in Hamden, Connecticut, Quinnipiac had a total enrollment of 9,424 students in the fall 2024 semester, according to the university. Penn State reports the Bellisario College had just over 1,000 students in the fall 2023 semester.

Hardin will become the 10th president in Quinnipiac history after replacing Judy Olian, who had been the president since 2018.