Hired
Jesse M. Bernal – Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University has selected Jesse Bernal as its next president.
The current vice president for strategy and university initiatives at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, Bernal helped transform academic planning to more strongly align with market needs and upscale the institution’s data analysis tools. This work led to a 28% bump in enrollment between 2020 and 2023, according to Western Connecticut. He is also familiar with leading major philanthropic initiatives and cultivating donor relationships.
Bernal begins July 11.
Dr. F. DuBois Bowman – Morehouse College (Ga.)
Dr. F. DuBois Bowman has been selected as the next president of Morehouse College, the historic HBCU in Atlanta and alma mater of Martin Luther King, Jr.
An alumnus of Morehouse, Dr. Bowman returns as its leading executive administrator following his deanship at the University of Michigan’s public health school and as an academic leader at Columbia and Emory University, where he concentrated on biostatistics.
Morehouse credits its next president with helping evolve understanding of brain function in youth, as well as neurological and mental health disorders.
More from UB: How tariffs can exacerbate sizable research funding cuts
In an interview with The New York Times, Bowman spoke about the difficult climate of leading a higher education institution amidst President Donald Trump’s efforts to change the sector—and funding for HBCUs. “The outlook for the future is uncertain for all of us,” he said. “[T]he uncertainty, in many ways, is so wide-ranging that it’s difficult to plan for.”
Bowman begins July 15.
Phil Cook – Lee University (Tenn.)
Phil Cook, the current president and CEO of the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals since 2021, has been selected as the next president of Lee University.
Cook spent the majority of his 30-year career in higher education at Lee. From 1997 to 2021, he served in multiple leadership roles, including vice president for enrollment. He begins on July 1.
S. Keith Hargrove – Elizabeth City State University (N.C.)
S. Keith Hargrove has been selected as the next president of Elizabeth City State University following a five-month national search. He last served as provost at Tuskegee University beginning in 2022. Enrollment increased by 10% during his tenure, according to a statement from Elizabeth City State.
Marva Johnson – Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University has selected Marva Johnson as its next president.
Johnson most recently served as an executive for Charter Communications, a telecommunications company, where she oversaw state government affairs, strategic partnerships and more. As the former chair of the Florida State Board of Education for four years, she oversaw the state’s implementation of performance-based funding policies.
Some Florida A&M alumni and current students have voiced their disapproval of Johnson’s selection, citing her lack of experience in higher education administration and deep ties to “MAGA politics,” according to a Change.org petition.
Johnson awaits her approval from the state’s governing board before a start date is set.
James B. Milliken – University of California
The University of California Board of Regents has selected James B. Milliken as the 10-campus system’s next president, beginning in August.
Milliken is not short on experience in leading massive state university systems; he is the previous president of the University of Texas system and The City University of New York. As the chancellor of the UT system, Milliken helped set record enrollment levels and drive up research expenditures to almost $5 billion. At CUNY, he expanded a pilot program that doubled the three-year graduation rate of community college students.
Jeremy Moreland – Saybrook University (Calif.)
Saybrook University has selected Jeremy Moreland as its next leader. He has previously served as the president of William Woods University and provost of St. Thomas University, where he is credited with helping grow student enrollment and retention.
William N. Ruud – Carroll College (Montana)
Carroll College has concluded its seven-month search for president following the board of trustee’s selection of William Ruud.
Ruud has served as a president for more than 17 years at three different institutions, including Marietta College in Ohio (2016–2023), the University of Northern Iowa (2013–2016), and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (2007–2013).
Retired
Thomas A. Parham – California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Dominguez Hills President Thomas Parham will retire from higher education leadership at the end of the year.
In his seven years as president beginning in 2018, Parham helped launch new undergraduate majors, two doctoral programs and several campus facility projects currently under development. Parham also launched the university system’s first Juneteenth symposium, which triggered recently approved state legislation establishing the Black Serving Institution designation in California.
Edward M. Smith – Williamson College (Tenn.)
Edward Smith, president of Williamson College, announced his plans to retire at the end of June 2026.
In his 11 years as leader, Smith expanded the college’s donor base, eliminated all long-term institutional debt and is in the process of launching five new master’s degree programs, Williamson Herald reports.
Wendy Wintersteen – Iowa State University
Wendy Wintersteen is retiring from Iowa State University, concluding the tenure of the first woman and second alum to lead the institution.
Iowa State prospered under Wintersteen’s eight-year tenure, boasting above-national average rates for first-year student retention and six-year graduation. It also earned the 2023 Entrepreneurial University of the Year for the Americas and 2024 Model University Accelerator/Incubator award from the U.S Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
During Wintersteen’s first four years, the Iowa State University Foundation exceeded its initial fundraising goal of $1.1 billion and achieved a historic $1.542 billion fundraising total for the Forever True, For Iowa State campaign. More than 96,000 alumni, donors and friends made gifts and commitments to the university.
Wintersteen plans to retire in January.
Stepping down
Brad Carson – University of Tulsa (Okla.)
Brad Carson, president of the University of Tulsa, is retiring from higher education leadership. He will go on to lead two organizations focused on policymaking surrounding artificial intelligence.
John W. Stewart – University of Montevallo (Ala.)
John Stewart, the University of Montevallo’s second-longest serving president, announced his plans to step down at the end of July.
President since 2010, Stewart expanded the university’s library of academic programs and has increased the student retention rate to 90%.
Montevallo recently began updating old facility infrastructure, which has cut into the university’s net revenue and budget. Tuition was raised by 3.5% after a seven-year freeze, 28 staff members were laid off and the president himself took a 20% cut in his compensation package, according to Shelby County Reporter.
Marcus Thompson – Jackson State University (Miss.)
Marcus Thompson is stepping down from Jackson State University less than two years after becoming president. The university did not provide an explanation why.
Thompson previously worked for Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning and was hired by Jackson State through an internal search, rather than a national search.
The HBCU has had four permanent presidents since 2010.
Martha Saunders – University of West Florida
University of West Florida President Martha Saunders is stepping down at the end of the year amid Gov. Ron DeSantis’ intentions to overhaul the institution, Florida Phoenix reports.
DeSantis, credited with helping oust the president of New College of Florida and restructuring the liberal arts institution’s board with GOP allies, has already begun appointing new trustees at West Florida.
“This was not an easy choice. I know it may come as a surprise, and for some, a disappointment,” Saunders wrote in a statement to the university. “Please know I did not make it lightly. I believe this is the right time—for me and for UWF.”
Saunders became president in 2017.
