Edward S. Wolak ’74 Portrait Unveiled in the SNHU Wolak Library Learning Commons

The SNHU community came together on May 4 to honor Trustee and alumnus Ed Wolak ’74 with a hand-painted portrait by New Hampshire artist Richard Whitney, PhD.H., which will hang in the Wolak Library Learning Commons on campus in honor of Wolak’s many contributions to SNHU students and the entire community.

The Library Learning Commons was named in honor of SNHU alumnus and Trustee Edward Wolak '74 in 2016. Wolak joined the SNHU Board of Trustees in 2012 to pursue his passion for making college accessible to students in need.

Ed Wolak quipped during his remarks that the only portrait he had prior to the hand-painted portrait was a selfie.

Wolak’s leadership and continuous generosity have created a legacy at SNHU. By creating The Edward S. Wolak Scholarship, Wolak has supported 24 students with awards. The scholarship supports campus students who have worked in the quick service industry and/or have been a member of the Boys and Girls Club.

Students who have benefitted from the scholarship noted how it gave them the motivation to keep working toward degree completion, noting the significant financial weight taken off their shoulders.

Ed Wolak and his wife, Debby, reveal the portrait as SNHU President Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc looks on.

Wolak, president and CEO of the Wolak Group and owner of more than 95 Dunkin' Donuts franchises in Maine, New Hampshire and upstate New York, paid his way through college by baking for Dunkin' Donuts franchises in the area. Today, he oversees approximately 40 business entities related to his Dunkin' Donuts franchises, including companies that develop and own the real estate that his stores occupy, and 1,800 employees.

Wolak grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, and earned two degrees from SNHU: an Associate of Science in Business Administration in 1972 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1974. Wolak and his wife, Debby, live in South Portland, Maine, and their daughter, Kim Wolak, is The Wolak Group's chief operation officer.

New Hampshire Artist Richard Whitney, PhD.H. (left) and his wife with Ed Wolak ’74.

See more photos from the event.

The Edward S. Wolak Library Learning Commons empowers SNHU students to learn and grow in our modern, complex and interconnected world. Built in 2014 and renamed in the fall of 2018 to honor Ed Wolak’s generosity and leadership, the building sees more than 250,000 visitors annually and supports the academic and research needs of SNHU students.

The Wolak Library Learning Commons embodies SNHU’s dedication to student success. As the university evolves and grows, the library is evolving with it, finding new ways to provide academic services to students wherever and whenever they may need them.

The Wolak Library Learning Commons houses a variety of resources: the Shapiro Library – which includes the university’s library collections, both in print and online, and the University Archives – the IT help desk, learning and faculty centers, silent and group study areas, instructional support, the Commons Café, the digital and 3D media production suite, and the Learning Center.

Ed Wolak has made an incredible impact on the SNHU community. With his help, SNHU can continue working to make college more accessible and affordable for all students.