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From Faculty to First Female President: Dr. Gustafson’s True Blue Vision for �㽶��

Meet Dr. Gustafson, �㽶��’s 20th president. A passionate advocate for the liberal arts and a proud Blue Hose at heart, Dr. Gustafson brings visionary leadership rooted in nearly two decades of service to �㽶��. With a deep belief in the transformative power of liberal arts education, she is boldly shaping �㽶��’s future while honoring its rich traditions. Under her leadership, �㽶�� is expanding academic programs, championing student success, and strengthening ties with the community. Driven by her commitment to access and excellence, Dr. Gustafson is ensuring that �㽶�� remains a place where intellectual discovery sparks purpose, and every student is empowered to lead with character and confidence.

Background

Dr. Gustafson served as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and a professor of history at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. She managed the Mercer’s largest academic undergraduate college with nearly 2,000 students. She collaborated with the provost and deans from 11 other university programs, including the Schools of Law, Business, Engineering, Education, Theology, Professional Advancement, Music, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Professions. In 2018, she worked with faculty to develop and implement a strategic plan for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

During her first 19 years at the �㽶��, Dr. Gustafson worked as both a member of the faculty and as an administrator to deliver a high-quality, student-focused liberal arts program. She served on the president’s cabinet for more than two years as interim provost, as well as interim dean of academic programs and history department chair. Dr. Gustafson held several faculty leadership roles at �㽶��, including chair of the Senior Faculty Council and chair of the �㽶�� Launch Program for Vocation, Leadership, and Service.

Strategic Priorities

Upon becoming president in 2023, Dr. Gustafson swiftly built a strong, collegial, and experienced leadership team that has already made strides towards the future of �㽶��. Key areas of focus for Dr. Gustafson and her team include:

• Expanding academic innovation while remaining true to the college’s liberal arts foundation and dedication to service
• Enhancing physical and technological campus infrastructure
• Strengthening �㽶��’s distinctive identity and visibility
• Ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the college.

Each priority reflects Dr. Gustafson’s commitment to honoring �㽶��’s rich heritage while also positioning the institution to thrive in a future that will demand adaptability, innovation, and unwavering dedication to the core mission.

First-year Achievements

Academic Innovation

In her first year, Dr. Gustafson made a noticeable impact across the �㽶�� campus. She created a New Programs Task Force composed of faculty from all areas of the college to explore new, innovative academic programs. Thanks to the task force’s work, the college will introduce new majors in Biophysics, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, English Secondary Education, History Secondary Education, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health, and a 3+2 Nursing program starting in Fall 2025. The team also created the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, which will strengthen all art, music, and theatre programs at �㽶��.

Research and Scholarship

Within her first year, Dr. Gustafson launched The Center for Inquiry, Research, and Scholarship, led by Dr. Austin Shull. The Center significantly expands opportunities for student-faculty research collaboration and fosters a culture of curiosity, academic rigor, and innovation. In addition to supporting original undergraduate research, the Center mentors high-achieving students to help them become competitive candidates for prestigious national and international fellowships, such as the Fulbright, Goldwater, and Rhodes. This year alone, Samantha Hauff ’25 received a Fulbright award, and Patrick Buchanan ’25 was named a semi-finalist—early proof of the Center’s impact and Dr. Gustafson’s commitment to elevating academic excellence at �㽶��.

Service Initiatives

EPIC Service, led by Dr. Julie Meadows and the Rev. Dr. Buz Wilcoxon ’04, is a key initiative of Dr. Gustafson’s strategic vision and a natural extension of �㽶��’s Heart of Service. This transformative initiative connects �㽶��’s long-standing commitment to service with academic excellence by integrating service directly into the classroom and beyond. Through intentional course development, faculty training, and meaningful partnerships with the Clinton community, EPIC creates a structured pathway for students to engage deeply in service and civic leadership. Students who complete the full experience — which includes academic coursework, cohort-based activities, and co-curricular service — will graduate with Distinction in Service and Community Engagement. This honor reflects not only the values that have shaped �㽶�� for generations but also the type of transformational experience Dr. Gustafson envisions for every student: one where learning and service go hand in hand to shape minds, hearts, and spirits.

Measurable Impact

Since Dr. Gustafson started in 2023, the retention rate at �㽶�� has increased by seven points—an improvement directly related to support programs across campus, especially within �㽶��’s award-winning PresbyFirst+ first-generation program.  �㽶�� was also awarded a $1.25M grant from the Lilly Foundation for the “Ecology of Calling” initiative in the Office of Spiritual Life. While Dr. Gustafson’s leadership is the driving force, she emphasizes that her dynamic leadership team is essential to these achievements.

Commitment to Access and Community

Dr. Gustafson is passionate about making transformative educational experiences accessible to students from all backgrounds. Education, to Dr. Gustafson, is society’s great equalizer. Ensuring �㽶�� continues to open doors of opportunity while maintaining academic excellence is central to the institutional purpose and exemplifies her calling in higher education.

To Dr. Gustafson, building community on campus isn’t about enforcing uniformity, but celebrating differences while discovering common humanity. She continues to create a place of learning where everyone can be their authentic self while also being challenged to grow.