St. Joseph’s College has appointed Dr. Joseph Lee of Standish as interim president beginning May 16.

Lee will serve during the next year as the college conducts a national search for a new president. President David House, who resigned on March 19, and Lee will work together to ensure a smooth transition during the coming weeks.

Lee has a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, a master’s degree in Education from Saint Michael’s College and a bachelor’s degree in French Literature from Saint Michael’s. He also is an alumnus of the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University. Born and raised in Bath, Lee graduated from Morse High School.

For the last year and a half, Lee has served Saint Joseph’s as vice president of enrollment management and helped to manage key areas such as student life and athletics.

“I am very excited and honored to accept this challenge and to continue the era of dynamic growth charted by President House,” he said.

Previously, Lee was dean of admissions and financial aid at Merrimack College, where he later became vice president for Student Services. He was an administrator at Merrimack in North Andover, Mass., for 13 years before becoming vice president for student life at Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. for 11 years. Most recently, he served as president of Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Ky.

Lee brings a depth and breadth of higher education leadership in student life, enrollment, marketing, strategic planning, financial management, intercollegiate athletics and development.

Robert MacBride, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the executive committee of the board chose Lee for his well-rounded administrative experience and the fact that he had rapidly gained the respect and confidence of his Saint Joseph’s colleagues, as well as faculty and students.

“We are confident that our college community will have solid interim leadership while maintaining the positive momentum established by President House,” MacBride said.

The Board is in the process of establishing a search committee to choose a permanent replacement for House.