From the time of its founding in 1889 until 1927, when it became an independent abbey, Saint Anselm was a dependent priory of  Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey.
The abbots of Saint Mary's were also the spiritual superiors of Saint Anselm.
Those abbots were Abbot Hilary Pfraengle and Abbot Ernest Helmstetter.

Since its elevation to the status of an independent institution, Saint Anselm has been led by five men:
Abbot Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. - In 1927, Saint Anselm Priory was elevated to an abbey by Pope Pius XI.
Abbot President Ernest Helmstetter, president of the American-Cassinese Congregation, conducted the first abbatial election, and the monks in solemn vows elected Fr.
Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. as first abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.

Abbot Gerald McCarthy, O.S.B. - Abbot Gerald was elected coadjutor abbot in 1963 at Abbot Bertrand's request.
Following the death of Abbot Bertrand in 1968, Abbot Gerald became the Abbot of Saint Anselm.
His abbatial blessing was celebrated on September 3, 1963, by Bishop Ernest John Primeau of Manchester.
Abbot Gerald retired from his abbatial duties due to declining health shortly before Christmas of 1971.

Bishop Joseph John Gerry, O.S.B. - Bishop Joseph professed first vows as a member of Saint Anselm Abbey on July 2, 1948, following his novitiate at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
He was ordained to the priesthood in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Manchester, by Bishop Matthew Francis Brady on June 12, 1954.
He was named Subprior of the Abbey in 1959 and Prior in 1963, a position he held until 1971.
On January 6, 1972, he was elected third abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey, a position he held until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester by Pope John Paul II.
On February 21, 1989 he was installed as the 10th Bishop of Portland, Maine.
The principal celebrant was Bernard Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston.
The event took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.
 Bishop Joseph retired on February 4, 2004, and returned to Saint Anselm Abbey where he currently resides.

Abbot Matthew K. Leavy, O.S.B. - Abbot Matthew, a native of the Bronx, New York, took vows as a monk in 1968.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1975, and having held various responsibilities in the monastery and at Saint Anselm College, he was elected the fourth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on March 4, 1986, at the age of 35, after Abbot Joseph John Gerry's elevation to Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester.
 Before being elected Abbot, he was the Prior of the Abbey.
Abbot Matthew retired from his position as Abbot and Chancellor of Saint Anselm College on June 5, 2012.

Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. - On June 5, 2012, Abbot Mark Cooper was elected as the fifth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.
By virtue of his election, he consequently becomes Chancellor of Saint Anselm College.
Previous to his election he managed Saint Anselm College's finances for 33 years and was set to retire as the treasurer and vice president of financial affairs.
Abbot Mark professed vows as a member of the Benedictine community at Saint Anselm in 1972 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1971 from Saint Anselm College.
He earned an M.S.A. in business administration from the University of Notre Dame.
He studied at Saint John's Seminary in Boston and St. Albert's Seminary in Oakland, California.
He taught at Woodside Priory in California and received an Alumni Award of Merit in 2003 for his contributions to the growth of Saint Anselm College.
Abbot Mark was officially blessed as the Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on September 10, 2012 by his uncle Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B. in the presence of the Bishop of Manchester, Peter Libasci.
From the time of its founding in 1889 until 1927, when it became an independent abbey, Saint Anselm was a dependent priory of  Saint Mary's Abbey in Newark, New Jersey. The abbots of Saint Mary's were also the spiritual superiors of Saint Anselm. Those abbots were Abbot Hilary Pfraengle and Abbot Ernest Helmstetter.
Since its elevation to the status of an independent institution, Saint Anselm has been led by five men:
Abbot Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. - In 1927, Saint Anselm Priory was elevated to an abbey by Pope Pius XI. Abbot President Ernest Helmstetter, president of the American-Cassinese Congregation, conducted the first abbatial election, and the monks in solemn vows elected Fr. Bertrand Dolan, O.S.B. as first abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.
Abbot Gerald McCarthy, O.S.B. - Abbot Gerald was elected coadjutor abbot in 1963 at Abbot Bertrand's request. Following the death of Abbot Bertrand in 1968, Abbot Gerald became the Abbot of Saint Anselm. His abbatial blessing was celebrated on September 3, 1963, by Bishop Ernest John Primeau of Manchester. Abbot Gerald retired from his abbatial duties due to declining health shortly before Christmas of 1971.
Bishop Joseph John Gerry, O.S.B. - Bishop Joseph professed first vows as a member of Saint Anselm Abbey on July 2, 1948, following his novitiate at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the priesthood in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Manchester, by Bishop Matthew Francis Brady on June 12, 1954. He was named Subprior of the Abbey in 1959 and Prior in 1963, a position he held until 1971. On January 6, 1972, he was elected third abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey, a position he held until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester by Pope John Paul II. On February 21, 1989 he was installed as the 10th Bishop of Portland, Maine. The principal celebrant was Bernard Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston. The event took place at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.  Bishop Joseph retired on February 4, 2004, and returned to Saint Anselm Abbey where he currently resides.
Abbot Matthew K. Leavy, O.S.B. - Abbot Matthew, a native of the Bronx, New York, took vows as a monk in 1968. Ordained to the priesthood in 1975, and having held various responsibilities in the monastery and at Saint Anselm College, he was elected the fourth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on March 4, 1986, at the age of 35, after Abbot Joseph John Gerry's elevation to Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester.  Before being elected Abbot, he was the Prior of the Abbey. Abbot Matthew retired from his position as Abbot and Chancellor of Saint Anselm College on June 5, 2012.
Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. - On June 5, 2012, Abbot Mark Cooper was elected as the fifth Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey. By virtue of his election, he consequently becomes Chancellor of Saint Anselm College. Previous to his election he managed Saint Anselm College's finances for 33 years and was set to retire as the treasurer and vice president of financial affairs. Abbot Mark professed vows as a member of the Benedictine community at Saint Anselm in 1972 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 1971 from Saint Anselm College. He earned an M.S.A. in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He studied at Saint John's Seminary in Boston and St. Albert's Seminary in Oakland, California. He taught at Woodside Priory in California and received an Alumni Award of Merit in 2003 for his contributions to the growth of Saint Anselm College. Abbot Mark was officially blessed as the Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey on September 10, 2012 by his uncle Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B. in the presence of the Bishop of Manchester, Peter Libasci.
Saint Anselm Abbey (New Hampshire)