PRIVATE NONPROFIT COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND THEIR LEADERSHIP
A Resource for Leaders
What's here
Latest Presidential Departures
We monitor forthcoming departures of presidents at private colleges and universities daily, and post the latest information.
Leadership News at Private Colleges
We track and offer updates on the many presidential searches underway, along with information on the institution and its recent history.
Resources for Presidential Candidates
Our collection of news stories, opinion pieces and other information may help to inform you on the changing world of the private college president. And as long-term higher education watchers, and with a depth of data on individual institutions, we offer insights and analysis of trends and troubles in private higher education.
Active presidential searches
Recent Presidential Appointments
By date taking office
9/1/19 - Clark Atlanta University (GA)
Clark Atlanta University hires new president
8/16/19 - Hope International University (CA)
Dr. Paul Alexander Named as HIU's Seventh President
8/15/19 - Illinois Wesleyan University (IL) Interim
Georgia Nugent Named Interim President of Illinois Wesleyan University
8/15/19 - Vanderbilt University (TN) Interim
VU Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos to step down Aug. 15
8/1/19 - Bennett College (NC)
Suzanne Walsh named new president of Bennett College
8/1/19 - The College of St. Scholastica (MN)
Duluth's College of St. Scholastica names new president
8/1/19 - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (AZ)
Anette M. Karlsson Named Chancellor of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Ariz., Campus
8/1/19 – Monmouth University (NJ)
Monmouth University Names Patrick F. Leahy 10th President
8/1/19 - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (LA)
Jamie Dew elected president of New Orleans Seminary
8/1/19 - Northwood University (MI)
Northwood University names new president
8/1/19 – Pepperdine University (CA)
James A. Gash Named Eighth President and CEO of Pepperdine University
8/1/19 – Roger Williams University (RI)
RWU picks STEM advocate as next president
8/1/19 - Seton Hall University (NJ)
Dr. Joseph E. Nyre Appointed Seton Hall University’s 21st President
8/1/19 – Wilkes University (PA) Interim
New acting president at Wilkes
7/22/19 - Georgetown College (KY)
William A. Jones Named 25th President of Georgetown College
7/15/19 – Clarke University (IA)
Thom D. Chesney Named 16th President of Clarke University
7/15/19 - Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MN)
Minneapolis College of Art and Design Names Sanjit Sethi President
7/1/19 – Allegheny College (PA)
Allegheny College names new president
7/1/19 – Alvernia College (PA)
Alvernia University selects new president
7/1/19 – Babson College (MA)
Former Philadelphia University president Stephen Spinelli Jr. to lead Babson College
7/1/19 – Carson-Newman University (TN) Interim
Carson-Newman names new interim president as search for long-term replacement continues
7/1/19 - Barry University (FL)
Barry University Names Mike Allen, Ph.D., as New President
7/1/19 - Bennington College (VT) Interim
Provost and Dean Isabel Roche to Serve as Interim President
7/1/19 - Carson-Newman University (TN)
University names Dr. Charles A. Fowler as 23rd president
7/1/19 - Champlain College (VT) Interim
Champlain College President Donald Laackman to step down
7/1/19 - Christian Brothers University (TN)
Jack Shannon Named 23rd President of Christian Brothers University
7/1/19 - Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (NY)
CRCDS names its next president
7/1/19 – Earlham College (IN)
Earlham College Chooses First Female President
7/1/19 – Elizabethtown College (PA)
Elizabethtown College Names 15th President
7/1/19 - Emory & Henry University (VA)
Emory & Henry President Jake. B Schrum’s retires, Provost John W. Wells tapped as replacment
7/1/19 - Endicott College (MA)
Endicott College Names New President, Dr. Steven R. DiSalvo
7/1/19 – Gardner-Webb University (NC)
Gardner-Webb University names an East Carolina dean as its new president
7/1/19 – Gettysburg College (PA)
Gettysburg College names new president
7/1/19 – Goldey Beacom College (DE)
Keith named 14th president of Goldey-Beacom College
7/1/19 - Goucher Colleege (MD)
Kent Devereaux Appointed 12th President of Goucher College
7/1/19 – Haverford College (PA)
7/1/19 – Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges names new president
7/1/19 - Hope College (MI)
Matthew A. Scogin Named 14th President of Hope College
7/1/19 - Iona College (NY)
Seamus Carey Named as Iona College's Ninth President
7/1/19 - Iowa Wesleyan University (IA)
7/1/19 - Kansas Christian College (KS)
Kansas Christian College Names its 12th President
7/1/19 - La Sierra University (CA)
Joy Fehr is tapped to become fourth president of Riverside’s La Sierra University
7/1/19 - Lesley University (MA)
Lesley University names longtime trustee as new president
7/1/19 – Lindenwood College (MO) Interim
Lindenwood: No degree? No Problem. Shonrock replaced with non-degree interim president
7/1/19 - Luther College (IA)
Luther College names Dr. Jenifer K. Ward as 11th president
7/1/19 – MacMurray College (IL) Interim
MacMurray President Dr. Mark Tierno to retire, Dr. Beverly Rodgers named interim president
7/1/19 - National University of Natural Medicine (OR)
Dr. Christine Girard Named President of National University of Natural Medicine
7/1/19 – Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)
Nebraska Wesleyan University Names Dr. Darrin Good As New President
7/1/19 - Pittsburgh Technical College (PA)
Harvey-Smith tapped to lead Pittsburgh Technical College
7/1/19 – Queens University of Charlotte (NC)
7/1/19 - Quincy University (IL)
Quincy University announces next president
7/1/19 - Reed College (OR)
Reed College names new president
7/1/19 - Saint Anselm College (NH)
Saint Anselm College Announces New President
7/1/19 - Saint Vincent College (PA)
SVC Announces Father Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B., Ph.D. as President
7/1/19 - Salve Regina University (RI)
Kelli Armstrong named eighth president of Salve Regina
7/1/19 - Santa Clara University (CA)
Santa Clara University Names Kevin O'Brien, S.J. As President
7/1/19 - Texas Lutheran University (TX)
TLU regents announce 16th president
7/1/19 - Tougaloo College (MS)
Tougaloo names Dr. Carmen J. Walters 14th president
7/1/19 - University of Dallas (TX)
7/1/19 – University of Rochester (NY)
Wisconsin Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf named University of Rochester president
7/1/19 - University of Southern California (CA)
USC selects Carol Folt as new president as university tries to move past scandals
7/1/19 - University of the Pacific (CA) Interim
University of the Pacific President Pamela A. Eibeck announces retirement
7/1/19 - Wagner College (NY)
Wagner College names Joel W. Martin as next president
7/1/19 - Western Theological Seminary (MI)
Dr. Felix Theonugraha Named as 12th President of WTS
6/22/19 - Bennett College (NC)
A new leader for Bennett College: Phyllis Dawkins departs after three years
6/19/19 - Marist College (NY) Interim
Marist College President David Yellen resigns; Dennis Murray named interim replacement
6/19/19 - Muhlenberg College (PA) Interim
Provost Kathy Harring to Serve as Interim President
6/10/19 - North Carolina Wesleyan College (NC) Interim
Clark resigns as president of N.C. Wesleyan
6/10/19 - Trinity International University (IL)
Wheaton College professor Nicholas Perrin elected 16th president of Trinity International University
6/3/19 - New York Theological Seminary (NY)
6/1/19 - Azusa Pacific (CA)
Azusa Pacific University Names Dr. Paul Ferguson as 17th President
6/1/19 - Bloomfield College (NJ)
First African American Woman President to Take Office at Bloomfield College June 1
6/1/19 - Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)
6/1/19 - Methodist University (NC) Interim
Trustees Name Interim MU President
6/1/19 - Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)
6/1/19 - Pfeiffer University (NC)
Pfeiffer names Bullard its next president
6/1/19 - Thomas More University (KY)
Thomas More University Names New President
6/1/19 - Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
Andrew Martin appointed 15th chancellor of Washington University
6/1/19 - Wentworth Institute of Technology (MA)
Wentworth Announces New President
5/31/19 - Illinois Wesleyan University (IL) Interim
Jensen retiring as IWU president; Wilson named acting president
5/28/19 - University of Mobile (AL) Interim
University of Mobile Board to Begin Presidential Search, Announces Interim President
5/22/19 - Franciscan University (WV)
Father David Pivonka, TOR, Class of 1989, Elected President of Franciscan University of Steubenville
5/15/19 - Keuka College ( NY)
Keuka College names Amy Storey president
4/5/19 - Hampshire College (MA) Interim
President Miriam Nelson Resigns from Hampshire, Board Names Ken Rosenthal Interim President
4/1/19 – Hebrew Union College (CA)
Rehfeld to leave Federation for top job at Hebrew Union College
4/1/19 - Howard Payne University (TX)
Cory Hines named Howard Payne University president
3/25/19 - Judson College (AL)
Judson College names new president
3/25/19 – Martin University (IN)
Martin University pulls new president from staff at UIndy
3/12/19 - Saint Augustine's University (NC) Interim
St. Augustine’s University president announces retirement
3/10/19 - Valley Forge Military Academy and College (PA) Interim
Valley Forge Military Academy & College president resigns
3/6/19 - Villa Maria College (NY)
After interim phase, Matthew Giordano receives nod to become Villa Maria College president
3/3/19 – Morris Brown University (GA) Interim
Troubled Morris Brown College hires former 100 Black Men CEO Kevin James as interim president
3/1/19 - Johnson & Wales University - Providence (RI)
Marie Bernardo-Sousa Appointed President, Johnson & Wales University Providence Campus
2/27/19 – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (TX)
Greenway nominated to lead Southwestern Seminary
2/18/19 - Oklahoma Baptist University (OK) Interim
OBU Trustees Name Interim President, Approve Presidential Search Committee
2/1/19 - Rush University (IL)
Dr. Sherine E. Gabriel Selected as Next President of Rush University
1/1/19 - New England Conservatory of Music (MA)
New England Conservatory Names Andrea Kalyn as New President
1/1/19 - Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science (IL) Interim
Dr. Wendy Rheault Appointed Interim President
Presidential Searches and leadership: Related News Stories
Presidential turnover calls for more sophisticated onboarding of new presidents (University Business/Opinion, 9/3/10)
Advancing to the Presidency No. 2: Always Be Learning (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 8/20/19)
Team of Rivals Why and how boards must help new presidents manage their senior teams
Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 7/17/19)
Knowing When to Leave the Presidency (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 7/10/19)
What Happens When Women Run Colleges? (Chronicle of Higher Education, 6/30/19)
Getting the Big Hires Right (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 6/26/19)
Advancing to the Presidency (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 6/19/19)
Investing in the Provost (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 6/13/19)
Dismantling the Senior Team: A Troubling Trend (Inside Higher Ed/Career Advice, 6/6/19)
The Successful President of Tomorrow: The 5 Skills Future Leaders Need (Chronicle of Higher Education Store, $99, May 2019)
The changing role of the university president (Crain's Cleveland Business, 4/28/19)
Who Steps Up to Lead a Financially Troubled College? (Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/10/19)
US Colleges May Have Trouble Keeping Presidents (Voice of America, 2/2/19)
Vermont by Degrees: Optimism for our future (Rutland Herald, Vt., 2/2/19)
Who Wants to Be a College President? (The Atlantic, 1/24/19)
There’s no standard path to — or from — the provost’s office (Education Dive, 1/23/19)
Leadership Turnover Creates Surge in Searches for College Presidents (Hunt Scanlon Media, 1/18/19)
The Provost’s Path (Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/13/19)
Taking the Lead: Challenges faced by college presidents resonate with professional women (The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa., 1/11/19)
Presidential Spouses and Partners: Clarifying Expectations (Inside Higher Ed, 1/4/19 – Opinion)
More colleges are using ‘hybrid search’ approach when looking for presidents (Crain’s Cleveland Business, 12/16/18)
Governing HBCUs for the Future (Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 11/4/18)
The Toughest Job in the Nation, (Inside Higher Ed, 10/18/18)
What is the future of the American college presidency? (Education Dive, 9/21/18)
What’s on the Mind of the Private-College President? 3 Insights From a New Report (Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/20/18)
The Presidential Spouse in Transition (Inside Higher Ed, 8/2/18 – Opinion)
Presidents Who Leave Liberal Arts Colleges (Inside Higher Ed, 7/19/18)
4 things every aspiring college president needs to know (Education Dive, 7/16/18)
College Chiefs Spare You the Terrible Details of Campus Crises. We Won’t. (Chronicle of HigherEducation, 5/25/18 – Book Review)
So You Want to Become a College President (Inside Higher Ed, 5/19/18 – Opinion)
What I Wish I Knew to Ask … and Ask For … as a New College President (innov8edu, 3/1/15)