Mary Baldwin names new president following retirement announcement of Pamela Fox

STAUNTON — Jeffrey Stein has been named the next president of Mary Baldwin University. Stein will succeed Pamela Fox on July 1. Fox announced this past August that she was retiring after serving as president for the past 20 years.

Stein was previously the vice president for strategic initiatives and partnerships, as well as an assistant professor of English, at Elon University in North Carolina. He will be the Staunton school's 10th president and the first male to serve in the role since 1976. Mary Baldwin's previous three presidents have been women. Mary Baldwin became a co-ed university in 2017.

"Jeff Stein's experiences across academia demonstrate leadership in and out of the classroom, his mastery of strategic planning lifts all campus stakeholders, and his ability to lead in challenging times speaks to a critical moment in higher education," MBU Board of Trustees Chair Gabrielle McCree said in a press release. "Above all, Jeff understands the power of higher education to improve the lives of students and their families, and he is compelled by the Mary Baldwin mission."

Stein brings more than 30 years of higher education experience to Mary Baldwin across academic, student engagement and administrative areas of university life, the release said. As vice president at Elon he led development and implementation of the university’s 10-year strategic plan as well as Elon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He oversees the student professional development center, leadership and professional development, professional and continuing studies, and cultural and special programs.

"I am honored and humbled to be chosen as Mary Baldwin University’s 10th president and thrilled to be joining this dynamic community, which for 181 years has made courageous decisions to change lives through inclusive, experiential, and student-centered education," Stein said in the release. "I look forward to getting to know and work with students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and community partners in Mary Baldwin’s next chapter, as together we ensure all students can learn, thrive and bring knowledge, skills and light to our world."

The search committee was a 15-member team composed of faculty, staff, alumni, recent graduates, senior leadership, trustees, and former trustees. It partnered with executive search firm, Academic Search, to during the search for the school's next president.

Co-chair of the search committee, Harvey Westbrook, said Stein demonstrated the ability to connect with people across the university during the extensive interview process and noted that Stein understands that Mary Baldwin has always evolved to serve students in their time.

"Jeff is a sharp, dynamic, and collaborative leader who consistently impressed us throughout the interview process," Westbrook said in the release. "His outstanding strategic and analytical skills include a profound understanding of the current challenges facing higher education and MBU's continuing need to transform. His extensive experience with long-term strategic transformations at Elon made it clear that he was the right person for the position."

Named Elon’s vice president for strategic initiatives and partnerships in 2019, Stein was charged with creating and implementing Elon’s latest strategic plan. The 10-year Boldly Elon strategic plan was designed to continue and expand the trajectory that has propelled Elon from a regional college to a top-100 national university over the past three decades.

“Dr. Jeff Stein has provided significant leadership in Elon’s development as a national university over the past 21 years,” said Elon President Connie Ledoux Book. “He is a passionate advocate for student success and has been a valued member of the Elon community with his positive and creative spirit."

During his time as a student affairs dean at Elon from 2002 to 2010, Stein spearheaded a campus-wide initiative to design a $150 million residential plan focused on integrating living and learning across the campus. Stein joined Elon’s senior staff in 2010, serving as chief of staff and secretary to the board of trustees for two Elon presidents.

The release said that Stein will bring to MBU skills in relationship-building, high-level communications and fundraising.

Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are deeply embedded in Stein’s work, the release said, and he has been a strong advocate and supporter of DEI through dialogue, best practices, scholarship, fundraising, and grants.

His doctoral dissertation focused on presidential roles in shaping campus culture and climate to ensure access and success for the broadest range of students.

Similarly, his work on the Boldly Elon strategic plan resulted in campus initiatives focused on three crucial areas: increasing representational diversity; building support for diverse students, faculty, and staff; and enhancing intercultural competencies. As part of these efforts, he participated in the formation and work of the Committee on Elon History and Memory, charged with examining Elon’s institutional history and developing policies to make the campus more just and inclusive.

His leadership in creating a welcoming environment for Jewish students at Elon resulted in growing the campus Jewish population from 50 to more than 800. He co-developed, published and presented a rubric to guide campuses on designing the leadership, programs, academics, facilities and systems to support and grow any diverse community on campus.

More on Stein

Stein earned a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Georgia, a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Colorado State University, a master’s degree in English from the University of Northern Colorado, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Beloit College in Wisconsin.

Stein’s publications include articles and book chapters on governing boards, the residential campus, inclusive campuses, multi-faith leadership, academic and student affairs partnerships, and service learning, as well as authored poems appearing in Third Coast, Diner, Front Range Review, and more.

In Alamance County, North Carolina, Stein serves as chair of the United Way board and on the Downtown Elon Advisory Board and the Alamance Economic Development Foundation board.

Stein’s parents were the first in their family to attend college, and his grandparents survived the Holocaust and Russian pogroms to make a new life in the United States. His wife, Chrissy Stein, teaches English at Elon, and their children, Lena and Benny, are graduates of Carleton College and Wesleyan University, respectively.

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Mary Baldwin University names new president