Photo Courtesy of Prescott College

John Flicker, the new president of Prescott College.

Photo by Andrew Bernier - KJZZ

The central of Prescott College's campus.

The only four year private liberal arts college in Arizona is getting a new leader Monday. Prescott College has chosen John Flicker as its new president.

Flicker previously led two prominent environmental organizations and school leaders hope that his background will raise the school’s profile and increase fundraising.

The former president of the National Audubon Society and vice president of The Nature Conservancy has a long career in leading environmental protection and education programs.

The college specializes in areas like sustainability, education and outdoor leadership. However, Prescott College has a history of financial troubles. Though this is his first time leading in academia, Flicker hopes to apply his expertise in fundraising to a small college with limited visibility.

“We’ve got to have quality, limited number of programs that focus on our core values," Flicker said. "We have to keep our costs down, stay lean. And then we need to raise more money from private philanthropy. It’s out there and we have to go out and get it. And we need more visibility to attract more students because we’re still heavily tuition based.”   

That annual tuition for an undergraduate student at the college is $25,000. About 1,200 students are currently enrolled across the college.