Video by Peyton Pusey/Marist University. 

November 3, 2026 — For 50 years, Lee Miringoff has built a legacy at Marist University that reaches far beyond public opinion polling.

What began with students conducting a local exit poll in 1978 has grown into the Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO), one of the country’s most respected polling operations, earning Marist a place in the national conversation while giving generations of students a front-row seat to politics, media, and public opinion.

The reach of Miringoff’s influence and mentorship was on full display during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, as former students and colleagues marked his career milestone alongside some familiar voices from the worlds of politics and media.

National political correspondent Steve Kornacki, a frequent visitor to Miringoff’s classes over the years, put it simply: “Lee, you’ve built a true institution at Marist.”

A personal letter from former President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, shared through Peter O’Keefe '91, added another national voice to the celebration. The Clintons described MIPO as “one of the most trusted and respected research centers in America” and recognized Miringoff’s contributions to public opinion research, democracy, civic engagement, and generations of students.

It is that combination of national reach and student impact that President Kevin Weinman said distinguishes Miringoff’s legacy.

Left: the personal letter from the Clintons. Right: Peter O’Keefe '91 presents Lee Miringoff with the framed letter. Photos by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

“Lee has always been about the educational experience at Marist,” Weinman said. “He centers students, highlights their successes, brings nationally known experts into the classroom, and keeps in touch long after graduation.”

Learning by Doing
Recognizing Miringoff’s potential early, President Emeritus Dennis Murray always encouraged him to expand the Poll’s reach. “If someone gives him a runway, he’ll really take off,” Murray said. 

For Miringoff’s students, that runway led to experiences well beyond the traditional classroom. Studying politics could mean traveling to Washington to meet political leaders, experiencing a presidential primary firsthand in New Hampshire, or conducting research and presenting it alongside experts in the field. 

“We now call it experiential learning, but 50 years ago, it was just Lee’s teaching style,” said Barbara Carvalho, Director of the Marist Poll and Miringoff’s longtime friend, colleague, and former student. 

Carvalho recalled how that philosophy extended far beyond any single class. Miringoff connected students with internships, research opportunities, independent studies, travel, and people working at the highest levels of politics and media — often following a student’s curiosity wherever it led.

Barbara Carvalho shares a campaign poster from Lee Miringoff’s time as a student. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

Nick Bayer '16 remembered traveling to New Hampshire during the 2016 presidential primary, racing from campaign events to interviews to catch as many candidates as possible.

“We’re not talking about running simulations,” Bayer said of Miringoff’s approach to applied learning. “Your version of this, Lee, is jumping in the minibus, going up to New Hampshire, and getting a glimpse of democracy in action.”

That hands-on experience could also open doors professionally. Trustee Lark-Marie Anton '99 began working at the Marist Poll as a first-year student, conducting telephone surveys before an internship with NBC journalist Gabe Pressman helped launch her passion for news.

“Lee’s legacy isn’t just the longevity of the Marist Poll,” she said. “It’s the credibility that he’s built, the students like me that he’s mentored, the journalists that he’s informed, and the countless conversations that he’s helped shape across this country.”

The lessons extended beyond politics and journalism. After more than three decades working in public service and national security, Jo-Ann Sears '91 still points to something Miringoff taught her as a student: “He taught us to question assumptions, challenge conventional wisdom, and, more importantly, look at the evidence before drawing conclusions.”

For Peter O’Keefe '91, the connections Miringoff created led all the way to presidential politics. After graduation, he joined the fledgling campaign of then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.

“Lee exposed me and my classmates to people outside of Marist, particularly political consultants,” O’Keefe said. “That gave me the courage to take that big leap of faith.”

Built by Generations

Trustee Lark-Marie Anton '99 with Lee Miringoff. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University

The alumni who returned to celebrate Miringoff represented only a fraction of the students, faculty, staff, and colleagues who have been part of the Marist Poll over the past five decades.

Miringoff made clear that he considers them part of its story.

“This isn’t one person’s story,” he said. “It’s the sum of everyone who ever took part in the Poll — their energy, their curiosity, and all of your aspirations.”

Attendees toast to Lee Miringoff. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

“I could not have done any of it without all of you,” Miringoff said.

Building on a Legacy
Half a century in, Miringoff is still focused on the students who will come next.

He and his wife, Nancy, have made a generous gift to establish a new endowed fund supporting MIPO. With additional gifts from a small group of supporters, including Peter O’Keefe '91 and his wife, Sarah, more than $130,000 has already been committed.

The fund will help MIPO continue to evolve while sustaining its public opinion research, national visibility for Marist, and hands-on learning opportunities for students.

“Our job isn’t to predict what will come next,” Miringoff said. “It’s to get ready for it, to make sure future generations of students are ready, and to build a place where people can adapt to the moment when it arrives.”