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Stetson Hire Is A First For University: A Female President

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By LINDSAY PETERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2008

GULFPORT - Stetson University has picked the first female president in its 125-year history, Wendy Libby, from Stephens College, in Columbia, Mo.

Her first task, after she takes over in July, will be to "learn what makes Stetson click," she said during a visit to the Gulfport campus today. "It's clear to me how much pride and love everyone has for this institution, flung all the way across Florida. I don't want to change its character. It's outstanding academically. It transforms the lives of its students."

The private university of 3,700 is based in DeLand, with a satellite center in Celebration, law school in Gulfport and satellite law center near downtown Tampa.

Libby will succeed H. Douglas Lee, who will become Stetson's chancellor, a position equivalent to president emeritus, after he retires in May.

Stephens, the country's second oldest women's college, was in decline when Libby became its president six years ago. She is credited with transforming it financially and academically.

She faces a different situation at Stetson. "This is not an institution in crisis. It's a very healthy and strong place," she said.

It could face difficulties as the economy worsens.

Libby plans to use her strategic thinking skills to improve the academic and athletics programs and assist students who need help paying tuition.

She said she didn't seek out the job and had doubts when she was approached in the summer. "I thought, 'I have a perfectly wonderful job at Stephens. Why look anywhere else?'

About a month ago, Libby said, she decided she could make a difference at Stetson.

She plans to get to know the faculty and students first, she said. "In higher ed, change is a participative process. You have to listen to people."

Reporter Lindsay Peterson can be reached at (813) 259-7834 or lpeterson@tampatrib.com.

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