The Southwestern University Board of Trustees has named the first female president of the educational institution in Georgetown, according to a university news release Friday.
Laura E. Skandera Trombley, will be the 16th president of Southwestern University, which is Texas’ oldest university, the release said.
“It is fitting that Southwestern University starts this new decade in historic fashion,” said Stephen G. Tipps, chair of Southwestern University’s Board of Trustees. “Dr. Trombley’s reputation and body of work in higher education is truly impressive. She is a gifted scholar, proven leader and passionate advocate for liberal arts education.”
Trombley will start her job July 1, replacing interim President Dale Knobel. Southwestern University’s former president, Edward Burger, left to become chief executive officer of the St. David’s Foundation in January.
Trombley is the president of the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn.; president emerita of Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., and president emerita of the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Calif., the release said.
She also served as vice president for academic affairs at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to the release.
“Southwestern University has been an institution I have long admired,” said Trombley.
“As I have watched its growth, I am continually impressed by the quality of its students, expertise of its faculty, and its ongoing success in admissions, fundraising, and creation of innovative curriculum,” she said. “These are challenging times, especially in higher education. I welcome these challenges and am excited to join the Southwestern community in ensuring we remain at the forefront of liberal arts universities.”
Recognized by her peers as a champion of liberal arts institutions, the release said, Trombley’s leadership has earned praise for her ability to establish best-in-class university operations, drive exponential growth in fundraising, increase student retention and success, foster a diverse and inclusive campus, and raise sustainability awareness.
Under her leadership, it said, both Pitzer College and the University of Bridgeport experienced transformational change, realizing a dramatic improvement in the schools’ national rankings and fundraising capabilities.
“After a very competitive national search, we enthusiastically recommended the board appoint Dr. Trombley as president of this great institution,” said Amanda McMillan, Southwestern trustee and chair of the presidential search committee. “I am elated to see a person of Dr. Trombley’s caliber come to Southwestern. I look forward to her visionary and action-oriented leadership in student success and inclusive excellence.”
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