Hired
Brendan Kelly – Eastern Michigan University
Brendan Kelly has been appointed the president of Eastern Michigan University. He and his wife are two-time alumni of the university.
Since 2024, Kelly has served as the president of the Arkansas State University, where he led initiatives focused on enrollment growth and community engagement. He has also served as the interim president of the University of South Carolina and chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Kelly begins on March 1.
Moez Limayem – University of South Florida
The Florida Board of Governors has confirmed Moez Limayem as president of the University of South Florida, WMNF reports.
As President of the University of North Florida over the last three years, Limayem has spearheaded community and corporate partnerships. He also contributed to the university’s record-high fall enrollment this year and first-year retention rate.
“I moved to this country from Africa with a very, very modest background because I believed in the power of education to change lives,” Limayem said. “I stand before you today as living proof of that belief.”
The university’s board of trustees unanimously selected Limayem in October and awaited confirmation from the state’s board, which oversees the State University System.
Limayem is set to begin in early 2026.
Rebecca Cantor – Austin College (Texas)
Rebecca Cantor is set to become the 17th president of Austin College in July 2026.
Currently the provost at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, Cantor has primarily focused on reaccreditation efforts and student success initiatives.
She is also a champion of the liberal arts. As Chair of the Liberal Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design and a tenured professor, Cantor has taught over 70 courses and published two books of poetry.
Matthew Baker – Emporia State University (Kan.)
The Kansas Board of Regents selected Matthew Baker as the next president of Emporia State University, beginning on March 2.
As the vice president of student affairs at Northwest Missouri State University, Baker has helped grow enrollment and expand co-curricular activities for students over the last 14 years.
Will Dudley – Claremont McKenna College (Calif.)
Claremont McKenna College, a private liberal arts college in California, has found its next president and chief academic officer in Will Dudley.
The Presidential Search Committee chose Dudley on account of his commitment to a liberal arts education, constructive dialogue and leadership development.
Dudley has led Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, since January 2017. There, he expanded faculty research, affordability and environmental stewardship.
“Will’s deep intellectual curiosity, coupled with a love of the outdoors makes him a natural fit for our campus and community,” said board member Sue Matteson King. “I think that he will thrive as the leader of CMC.”
Dudley begins in July.
Carolyn Noll Sorg – John Carroll University (Ohio)
The John Carroll University Board of Directors has promoted Carolyn Noll Sorg to president, effective in June.
Sorg is currently John Caroll’s vice president for enrollment and marketing, where she has helped generate the largest two-year increase in first-year enrollment over the past two decades. The university also credits her with increasing student diversity and improving school counselor and high school relationships.
Retiring
James Clements – Clemson University (S.C.)
James Clements announced his plans to retire from Clemson University at the end of the calendar year after serving 12 years as president.
Clemson has achieved record enrollment and graduation rates under Clements, while also expanding research and fundraising.
“President Clements has been more than a leader – he has been a mentor, a friend and an advocate for every member of the Clemson Family,” Kim Wilkerson, chair of the Clemson University Board of Trustees, wrote in a public letter.
Kathleen Getz – Mercyhurst University (Penn.)
Kathleen Getz is retiring from Mercyhurst University in June, concluding a five-year tenure as president and a 35-year career in higher education.
At Mercyhurst, Getz formed alliances for dual-degree careers, expanded access to neurodiverse students and transitioned the university’s athletics to Division I.
Greg Cant – Wilkes University (Penn.)
President Greg Cant announced his plans to retire in August after six years at the helm of Wilkes University.
A native of Australia, Cant has led Wilkes since May 2020.
Cant has also held leadership positions at Montclair State University in New Jersey and Concordia College in Minnesota, as well as faculty positions in China, the United Kingdom and his native Australia.
Stepping down
Ernest McNealy – Allen University (S.C.)
Ernest McNealy will no longer be president of Allen University after the board did not renew his contract.
“McNealy no longer has the authority to conduct business, make decisions, or represent Allen University in any official capacity,” James Davis, chair of the Allen University Board of Trustees, wrote in a letter.
McNealy has served as president of Allen University since 2017.
Diana Lovell – Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Diana Lovell is out as president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University following a meeting by the Regional University System of Oklahoma, The Oklahoman reports.
President of the university since 2021, Lovell took leave in September after requesting for extended personal time to be with her family, according to The Penny News.
