Dr. Merselis Awarded Honorary Business Doctorate From Antioch
 Dr. John Merselis accepts his honorary doctorate at Antioch University New England’s commencement exercises on Saturday. |
KEENE, N.H. — Antioch University New England bestowed longtime trustee Dr. John G. Merselis Jr. of Williamstown with an honorary doctorate degree in business at its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, in Keene.
Merselis practiced internal medicine for nearly 30 years with Williamstown Medical Associates. He then enrolled as a graduate student at Antioch University New England and earned his master of science in management degree in 1996. Beginning in 1997, he served on the governance board of Antioch University for a dozen years. In 2009, he was named to AUNE's inaugural board of trustees, on which he continues to serve.
"I am very surprised by this great honor," said Merselis. "I'm very happy and proud that I've been able to help further the mission of Antioch University to educate leaders for a just and sustainable world."
Merselis is a graduate of Williams College, holds a medical degree from John Hopkins University, and completed postgraduate training at John Hopkins Hospital and New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. From 1963 to 1964, he was a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow in preventive medicine at Makere Medical College in Kampala, Uganda. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
He was a trustee of the former Williamstown Savings Bank for 28 years, and founding chairman of Mountain One. He has served as a founding director of the Fund for Williamstown (an endowment for the town) and Mount Greylock Regional School District's Sustaining Educational Excellence Fund. He served as a selectman in Williamstown for six years, a director of the New Hampshire Lakes Association, and is currently a trustee of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.
Merselis is the author of several scientific papers, and is a contributing author and editor of Bear Island Reflections, a history of an island community in New Hampshire.
"Jack is an Antioch University treasure," said Stephen Jones, president of Antioch University New England. "There are very few individuals in Antioch's history who have provided such a level of distinguished service as Jack Merselis. He demonstrates exceptional leadership. Throughout his service, he maintained a calm, objective and professional demeanor, and was trusted by all the members of the board who sought his guidance and counsel, and trusted his judgment. His devotion to the University and Antioch University New England is unsurpassed."
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