Only two institutions have named a full-time successor since, leaving a considerable chunk of the Magnolia State's colleges and universities with vacant seats in executive leadership.
Among the cream of the crop of R1 universities, 75% of the Ivy Leagues are now female-led. Ten of the 20 schools to have appointed a female president are doing so for the first time in the school's history.
Mergers, acquisitions, partnerships—oh my! Alliances can be highly individualized depending on each institution's unique set of challenges. However, these trends can help explain what's going on.
With a smaller pool of available students, a growing wake of attention to mental health and a swelling public skepticism of higher education, these small private college and university leaders in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Maine are redefining their job to guide their schools in murky waters.
Aside from some bittersweet endings to some long, healthy careers, one president of a major university left following two "embarrassing" mishaps, and another didn't make it into his first year before resigning.
Of the 2,723 public, nonprofit private, and for-profit private four-year institutions researched by Colgate University leaders, only 713 of those institutions are led by women.
Although 71% of respondents attested to senior leadership supporting continuing education programs, staffing challenges and access to its data are reportedly getting worse, according to a new study from Modern Campus.
Despite recent pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion among several states, a number of colleges have recently hired presidents based on their commitment to that principle. Several are also coming in as either the first woman or the first of their race or ethnicity to lead their school.
Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony's commitment to "integrity; also, transparency and accountability" will attempt to right the wrongs of their most recent president—and maybe even those that came before him.
DeSantis' vision for a conservative-leaning New College of Florida has begun with the removal of sitting president Patricia Okker, replacing her with former education commissioner and GOP Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran.
