STANDISH -- St. Joseph's College has found its new leader in Joseph Lee, an administrator who has been serving as interim president of the private Catholic liberal arts school.

Lee's appointment as the college's 13th president was announced Monday. He had been interim president since May 2007 and was vice president of enrollment management for a year and a half before that.

The college, founded by the Sisters of Mercy, embarked on a national search last year following the resignation of David House, who had been president for 12 years. The search resulted in 54 applications, but Robert MacBride, chairman of the board of trustees said one clearly rose to the top.

"As it turned out, that strongest candidate for president of St. Joseph's College not only had depth of experience and leadership skills, he knew the college well and had worked closely with our students, faculty and staff as a top administrator over the last two and a half years," MacBride said.

Lee's appointment comes during a period of expansion at the college.

Full-time enrollment has grown from 800 students in 1995 to 1,075 now. Lee expects the figure to grow to 1,250 to 1,300 over the next six to seven years. Construction plans include space for environmental sciences and five residence halls housing about 60 students each.

Lee said a capital campaign to enhance science programs and a revisiting of the college's strategic plan are among his first major projects.

"I see a lot of dynamic growth that will continue," he said, noting that the college must map that growth responsibly.

The search committee that included trustees, faculty and staff made a unanimous recommendation to the trustees' executive committee last month. The full board approved the appointment Friday.

Sister Mary George O'Toole, vice president for mission integration and part of the search committee, said she expected "a capable and loving leadership" from Lee.

"It's his caring for the human being, so whoever is in relationship with him, the dignity of that person is recognized and responded to," she said.

Naomi Anderson, who graduated Saturday, said Lee adds to the family atmosphere of the school. Anderson has worked with him on events through her job with campus catering and because he eats lunch with students, sits with them at athletic events and otherwise gets to know them.

"He wants to be right in there," she said.

Dale Brooker, chairman of the sociology and criminal justice department, said faculty speak very highly of Lee, whom he described as accessible and someone who exemplifies core values of the college like community, respect and integrity.

"He really is a model leader," Brooker said.

Lee takes over the position from House, who said after his resignation that he was at a point where he had to make a move or commit to remaining with the college for the rest of his career. He is now executive director of the Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst Foundation, a private Catholic family foundation based in Naples, Fla.

Lee, 64, has worked in higher education for four decades, primarily in Catholic institutions. His past posts include president of Thomas More College in Crestview Hill, Ky., vice president of student life at Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y., vice president for student services and dean of admissions and financial aid at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass.

Lee, a native of Bath who now lives in Windham, earned his doctorate in higher education administration from Boston College. He also holds a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in French literature from St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vt.