{"id":789,"date":"2026-08-18T12:51:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/?page_id=789"},"modified":"2026-08-18T14:43:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:43:05","slug":"789-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/789-2\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- =========================================================\n     THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER\n     PAST PRESIDENTS \u2014 THE PRESIDENTIAL ARCHIVE\n     INLINE-STYLED WORDPRESS VERSION\n     ========================================================= -->\n\n\n<!-- =========================================================\n     PAGE FOUNDATION\n     ========================================================= -->\n\n<div style=\"width:100%;max-width:1220px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 20px 80px 20px;background:#f2ede2;color:#211f1a;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif\">\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       HERO\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;width:100%;min-height:520px;margin:0 0 55px 0;overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8;border-bottom:5px solid #f7bf0a\">\n\n\n    <!-- OLD MAIN IMAGE \u2014 FAR RIGHT -->\n\n    <div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;right:0;width:43%;height:100%;overflow:hidden\">\n\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/Image-8-18-26-at-13.07-e1787075487649.jpeg\" alt=\"Old Main at The College of Wooster\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:65% center\">\n\n      <!-- IMAGE OVERLAY -->\n\n      <div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background:linear-gradient(to right,#fffdf8 0%,rgba(255,253,248,.98) 8%,rgba(255,253,248,.82) 22%,rgba(255,253,248,.45) 42%,rgba(255,253,248,.10) 68%,rgba(33,31,26,.08) 100%)\"><\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- HERO CONTENT -->\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;z-index:2;width:67%;min-height:520px;display:flex;align-items:center;padding:65px 55px\">\n\n      <div style=\"width:100%;max-width:650px\">\n\n\n        <!-- SMALL GOLD LABEL -->\n\n        <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:13px;margin:0 0 22px 0;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n\n          <span style=\"display:block;flex:0 0 38px;width:38px;height:2px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/span>\n\n          The Presidential Archive\n\n        <\/div>\n\n\n        <!-- TITLE -->\n\n        <h1 style=\"margin:0;color:#211f1a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:68px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.02;letter-spacing:-1.8px\">\n\n          Past Presidents\n\n        <\/h1>\n\n\n        <!-- GOLD RULE -->\n\n        <div style=\"width:92px;height:4px;margin:28px 0 27px 0;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n\n        <!-- INTRODUCTORY HERO TEXT -->\n\n        <p style=\"max-width:650px;margin:0;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.8\">\n\n          From the founding of the University of Wooster in 1866 to The College of Wooster today, those who have led the institution have helped shape its character, traditions, intellectual life, and enduring liberal arts mission.\n\n        <\/p>\n\n\n        <!-- DATES -->\n\n        <div style=\"margin-top:30px;color:#806d20;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:14px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n\n          1870 \u2014 Present &nbsp; \u00b7 &nbsp; A Presidential History\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       INTRODUCTION\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;margin:0 0 45px 0;padding:36px 42px;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d7cfbd\">\n\n    <div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:6px;height:100%;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n    <p style=\"max-width:1020px;margin:0;color:#3f3b32;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:17px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n      The history of The College of Wooster is a history of people who firmly believed in the transformative power of education. Over a century and a half, Wooster\u2019s leaders have guided the College through periods of extraordinary growth, war, social change, financial challenge, and renewal. Their service has left an enduring mark on the campus, its students, and the liberal arts tradition.\n\n    <\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       ARCHIVE AT A GLANCE\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,minmax(0,1fr));margin:0 0 60px 0;background:#211f1a;border:1px solid #403a2f\">\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;padding:27px 25px;text-align:center\">\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;margin:0 0 7px 0;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:32px;line-height:1\">\n        13\n      <\/span>\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;color:#ddd5c5;font-size:10px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n        Numbered Presidents\n      <\/span>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;padding:27px 25px;text-align:center\">\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;margin:0 0 7px 0;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:32px;line-height:1\">\n        153+\n      <\/span>\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;color:#ddd5c5;font-size:10px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n        Years of Institutional History\n      <\/span>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;padding:27px 25px;text-align:center\">\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;margin:0 0 7px 0;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:30px;line-height:1\">\n        1870\u2013Present\n      <\/span>\n\n      <span style=\"display:block;color:#ddd5c5;font-size:10px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n        Historical Record\n      <\/span>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENTS HEADER\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:space-between;gap:30px;margin:0 0 40px 0;padding:0 0 25px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #c9bd9c\">\n\n    <div>\n\n      <h2 style=\"margin:0;color:#211f1a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:38px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.15\">\n\n        Presidents of The College of Wooster\n\n      <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <p style=\"max-width:430px;margin:0;color:#6c6558;font-size:13px;line-height:1.65;text-align:right\">\n\n      Learn about the individuals who have guided Wooster through its institutional history.\n\n    <\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       1870 ERA\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;margin:0 0 38px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"padding:9px 22px;border:1px solid #b9aa7d;background:#f7f2e8;color:#806b18;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:1px\">\n      1870\u20131899\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div style=\"margin:0 0 38px 110px;padding-left:17px;border-left:3px solid #f7bf0a;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n    Founding &amp; Early Growth\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 01 \u2014 WILLIS LORD\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;z-index:3;width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      01\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"position:relative;width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/rev-willis-lord-e1787068477949.jpg\" alt=\"Rev. Willis Lord\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin:0 0 12px 0;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            First President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px 0;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Rev. Willis Lord, D.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1870\u20131873\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n          Read Presidential History\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px;font-weight:400\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Rev. Willis Lord, a professor of didactic theology at the Theological Seminary of the Northwest in Chicago, accepted the Board of Trustees\u2019 offer to become The University of Wooster\u2019s first president March 14, 1870. Lord worked collaboratively with the trustees to develop a wide-ranging curriculum and constitute a faculty. Ahead of his time, Lord was a vociferous advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, arguing that an excellent education demands a diversity of voices and perspectives and that people studying together, on equal terms, makes learning better\u2014for everyone. During his inauguration, Lord proclaimed that Wooster \u201cshould be not only a place of all studies; it should also be a place of studies for all &#8230; The essential test of citizenship in the commonwealth of science and letters should be character, mental and moral quality, and attainment, not condition, race, color, or sex.\u201d During Lord\u2019s time as president he developed close ties with the community, recruited and graduated three classes, introduced scholarly standards, and helped to create a lasting place for Wooster among the colleges of Ohio.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 02 \u2014 TAYLOR\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      02\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/archibald-alexander-edward-taylor.jpg\" alt=\"Archibald Alexander Edward Taylor\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Second President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px 0;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Archibald Alexander Edward Taylor, D.D., LL.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1873\u20131883\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Rev. Archibald Taylor was inaugurated as Wooster\u2019s second president October 7, 1873, the beginning of a period described by one historian as a \u201cgolden age, an era of expansion and of gifted personalities.\u201d A Presbyterian minister from Cincinnati, he eagerly established the Westminster Presbyterian Church and expanded biblical course offerings to fulfill students\u2019 interest in ministry as a vocation. The campus also grew to include an observatory and Severance Gymnasium, and under Taylor\u2019s leadership, the departments of music and graduate study were added, enrollment increased throughout all departments, the first female faculty member was hired, and organized athletics as well as social clubs began to take shape. Two years after resigning from the presidency, Taylor returned to Wooster to serve as a professor of logic and political science, the director of the post-graduate department, and editor of The Post-Graduate and Wooster Quarterly (now Wooster magazine).\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 03 \u2014 SCOVEL\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      03\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/sylvester-fithian-scovel-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sylvester Fithian Scovel\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Third President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Sylvester Fithian Scovel, D.D., LL.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1883\u20131899\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Rev. Sylvester Fithian Scovel, D.D., LL.D., a Presbyterian minister from Pittsburgh, became Wooster\u2019s third president in October of 1883. Scovel gave to Wooster a rare personality, vigorous, cultivated, reserved, sincere, and deeply spiritual. During his tenure, the first African American student graduated from Wooster in 1892, additions were made to Old Main, and construction began on the library. Attendance continued to grow during his tenure as did the number of faculty through endowed gifts that especially strengthened the scientific departments. The first issue of The Wooster Voice appeared on November 13, 1883. Hoover Cottage was constructed for women to be a real home, not an institutional dormitory. Captain J.H. Kauke gave a deed for his own residence on Beall Avenue to the College in 1889, and it was remodeled for the conservatory of music with the upper floors providing dormitory space for young women who came to Wooster to study music.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       ERA DIVIDER \u2014 1899\u20131944\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;margin:78px 0 38px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"padding:9px 22px;border:1px solid #b9aa7d;background:#f7f2e8;color:#806b18;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:1px\">\n      1899\u20131944\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div style=\"margin:0 0 38px 110px;padding-left:17px;border-left:3px solid #f7bf0a;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n    Rebuilding &amp; Expansion\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 04 \u2014 HOLDEN\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      04\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/Image-8-18-26-at-11.22.jpeg\" alt=\"Louis Edward Holden\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Fourth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Louis Edward Holden, D.D., LL.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1899\u20131915\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Similar to previous presidents, Rev. Louis Holden, inaugurated November 3, 1899, was a Presbyterian minister, but unlike his predecessors he was also a businessman who recognized that the \u201ctime had passed\u201d for Wooster to be \u201cchiefly a preparatory school for theological seminaries.\u201d That acumen proved to be critical when the \u201cGreat Fire\u201d burned down Old Main, leaving the College in shambles in December 1901. Holden aggressively and quickly raised funds to build four new buildings: Kauke Hall, Severance Hall for chemistry, Scovel Hall for biology, and Taylor Hall. Dubbed the \u201cNew Wooster\u201d by some, the campus flourished in nearly every area during Holden\u2019s tenure, growing to 100 acres and the endowment reaching $1 million for the first time. Holden is also credited with lifting the ban on intercollegiate athletics early in his administration, and he oversaw the name change from university to college to better reflect the institution\u2019s offerings.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 05 \u2014 WHITE\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      05\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da;color:#776d59;font-size:10px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px;text-align:center\">\n          Portrait\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Fifth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            John Campbell White, LL.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1915\u20131919\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Rev. John Campbell White, an 1890 alumnus, took over as president of The College of Wooster in 1915, succeeding President Holden who served in the role for 16 years. Like his predecessors, White was an ordained minister, but unlike them, he came with no academic experience, but with a missionary zeal for making a difference in the larger world. He was a College trustee and a member of the search committee for the position he filled. White introduced the Wooster Symphony Orchestra in 1916, which is today one of the oldest town and gown orchestras in the country. As the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, military training for men was substituted for required physical education classes. Fall admissions fell by 28 percent. Coal shortages resulted in an extended Christmas vacation. In 1919, White resigned for an administrative position with the Interchurch World Movement of North America.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 06 \u2014 WISHART\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      06\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/Image-8-18-26-at-11.18.jpeg\" alt=\"Charles Frederick Wishart\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Sixth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Charles Frederick Wishart, D.D., LL.D., Litt.D., L.H.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1919\u20131944\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Rev. Charles \u201cPrexy\u201d Wishart was inaugurated December 9, 1919, the start of what would become the longest tenure in The College of Wooster\u2019s presidential history. Early in his presidency, he was elected moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA, beating out well-known politician William Jennings Bryan in a bitter election over whether affiliated schools should teach the theory of evolution. During his 25 years at the College, Wishart\u2019s \u201cluminous spirit\u201d helped guide the way through troubling times of the Great Depression and into World War II, and his accomplishments were impressive and wide-ranging. A number of student residences were constructed, including Babcock Hall and Douglass Hall, as were Galpin Hall and Hygeia Hall, and faculty increased by one-third to meet the demands of a growing student population. New degrees in music were conferred, academic programs expanded greatly, the Phi Beta Kappa chapter was formalized, a 24\/7 student health service was instituted, the marching band wore kilts for the first time, and an alumni secretary and a news bureau also were established.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       ERA DIVIDER \u2014 1944\u20131977\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;margin:78px 0 38px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"padding:9px 22px;border:1px solid #b9aa7d;background:#f7f2e8;color:#806b18;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:1px\">\n      1944\u20131977\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div style=\"margin:0 0 38px 110px;padding-left:17px;border-left:3px solid #f7bf0a;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n    Transformation &amp; Modernization\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 07 \u2014 LOWRY\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      07\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/howard-lowry.jpg\" alt=\"Howard F. Lowry\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Seventh President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Howard F. Lowry, Ph.D., Litt.D., LL.D., D.C.L., L.H.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1944\u20131967\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Howard F. Lowry, a 1923 alumnus of The College of Wooster, was a scholar of English literature and a longtime member of the Wooster academic community. Before becoming president, he taught English at Wooster and later served as a professor of English literature at Princeton University. In 1944, he returned to Wooster as its seventh president, beginning a 23-year tenure that transformed the College academically and physically. Under Lowry\u2019s leadership, the College constructed 15 new buildings, including Andrews Library, which opened in 1962, and renovated five others. One of his most enduring contributions was the creation of Independent Study in 1945; by 1949, the program had become a required part of the curriculum for graduating students. Lowry described Independent Study as one of the College\u2019s highest academic invitations, giving students the opportunity to pursue sustained, independent inquiry. His presidency also saw the hiring of Wooster\u2019s first African American faculty member and a female medical director, the expansion of opportunities for women in athletics, and the creation of a campus chapter of the NAACP. Through his scholarship, leadership, and commitment to student research, Lowry helped establish Independent Study as a defining feature of a Wooster education.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 08 \u2014 DRUSHAL\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      08\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/j-garber-drushal.jpg\" alt=\"J. Garber Drushal\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Eighth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            J. Garber Drushal, Ph.D., LL.D., L.H.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1967\u20131977\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          J. Garber Drushal, vice president for academic affairs and chair of academic committees, was appointed acting president in 1967 following the death of Howard Lowry, and in April 1968 was named The College of Wooster\u2019s eighth president. Drushal successfully guided the College through a period of significant campus unrest arising from protests against the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. He led efforts to build a more diverse faculty and student body. In 1969, the Ohio Synod voted to end its formal relationship with Wooster, resulting in seniors no longer being required to attend chapel; a year later, the exemption was expanded to the entire student population. Campus Council also began in 1969, bringing students, faculty, and staff together to make recommendations to the administration. Memorial Chapel was replaced with McGaw Chapel in 1971. During Drushal\u2019s presidency, Armington Physical Education Center was completed in 1968, Timken Gymnasium in 1973, and Freedlander Theatre in 1975.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       ERA DIVIDER \u2014 1977\u20132007\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;margin:78px 0 38px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"padding:9px 22px;border:1px solid #b9aa7d;background:#f7f2e8;color:#806b18;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:1px\">\n      1977\u20132007\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div style=\"margin:0 0 38px 110px;padding-left:17px;border-left:3px solid #f7bf0a;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n    Growth &amp; Renewal\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 09 \u2014 COPELAND\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      09\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/henry-copeland.jpg\" alt=\"Henry Jefferson Copeland Jr.\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Ninth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Henry Jefferson Copeland Jr., Ph.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1977\u20131995\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Henry Copeland joined The College of Wooster as an assistant professor of history in 1966, and then a rapid ascent saw him advance to associate professor to associate dean to dean of the faculty to being inaugurated as the ninth president of Wooster October 7, 1977, at the age of 41. A Southern gentleman with an understated style, Copeland guided Wooster during one of its most successful eras, yet he consistently gave credit to others. His 18 years as president saw the adoption of a new academic calendar (semesters, instead of quarters), the introduction of six new majors, which increased commitments in the natural sciences and fine arts, and the first major investment in computing facilities and equipment. The College also flourished financially. The endowment tripled during Copeland\u2019s tenure, and the highly successful \u201cCampaign for Wooster\u201d led to the addition of Scheide Music Center, major renovations of Scovel Hall and Taylor Hall, and a number of other capital projects. He also oversaw the founding of the Ohio Light Opera in 1979 and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) charter in 1984. NCAC was founded on the principles of excellence in academics and athletics and of equity for men\u2019s and women\u2019s sports.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 10 \u2014 HALES\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      10\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/raleigh-stanton-hales-jr.jpg\" alt=\"Raleigh Stanton Hales Jr.\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Tenth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Raleigh Stanton Hales Jr., Ph.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            1995\u20132007\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          A mathematician by trade, Stan Hales became The College of Wooster\u2019s 10th president after previously serving as the vice president for academic affairs for five years. He first stepped in as interim president on August 1, 1995, and became president for the 1996-97 academic year. Hales\u2019 presidency was a remarkably fruitful time for Wooster. His tenure was marked by substantial financial and physical growth, as the campus transformed with the addition of five new buildings\u2014Longbrake Student Wellness Center, Gault Admissions Center, Burton D. Morgan Hall, Bornhuetter Hall, Gault Manor\u2014and four major renovations, including Kauke Hall, the largest capital project in the school\u2019s history at the time. Known for boundless enthusiasm as well as an unmatched ability to remember people\u2019s names, Hales balanced his administrative responsibilities by embracing the total Wooster experience. He could regularly be found supporting students in the classroom, on the stage, at the concert hall, and on the playing field. He also found time for his other passion\u2014badminton\u2014as the two-time U.S. men\u2019s singles champion, he served as one of three deputy referees for the badminton competition at the 1996 Olympic Games.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       ERA DIVIDER \u2014 2007\u2013PRESENT\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:18px;margin:78px 0 38px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"padding:9px 22px;border:1px solid #b9aa7d;background:#f7f2e8;color:#806b18;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:1px\">\n      2007\u2013Present\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"flex:1;height:1px;background:#c9bd9c\"><\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n  <div style=\"margin:0 0 38px 110px;padding-left:17px;border-left:3px solid #f7bf0a;color:#806d20;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:3px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n    A Modern Wooster\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 11 \u2014 CORNWELL\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      11\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/Image-8-18-26-at-11.25.jpeg\" alt=\"Grant Cornwell Jr.\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Eleventh President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Grant Cornwell Jr., Ph.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            2007\u20132015\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Grant Cornwell, a professor and chair of philosophy and vice president and dean of academic affairs at St. Lawrence University, became The College of Wooster\u2019s 11th president in 2007. The Senior Research Symposium was created the following year to allow seniors to present their I.S. research through campus-wide presentations, poster sessions, and performances. During Cornwell\u2019s tenure the College renewed its commitments to diversity, sustainability, and vocation. Instrumental in the College\u2019s goal of increased diversity was the Center for Diversity and Global Engagement, which was established in 2009, and the College\u2019s membership in the POSSE foundation. Cornwell held a strong conviction that Wooster needed to be a global college and led a dramatic growth in the numbers of international students and faculty. Cornwell reinforced sustainability commitments when the Scot Center was built in 2012 with solar panels, making it the College\u2019s first LEED-certified building, and a year later the coal burning power plant was replaced with a natural gas boiler. Vocation expanded with the creation of the Center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning (APEX) for academic and career support. He led the campaign for the Ruth Williams Hall of Life Science, which was completed in 2018.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       INTERIM PRESIDENT \u2014 NUGENT\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:17px;text-align:center;line-height:1.15\">\n      INT.\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da;color:#776d59;font-size:10px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px;text-align:center\">\n          Portrait\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Interim President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Georgia Nugent, Ph.D., L.H.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            2015\u20132016 \u00b7 Interim\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Georgia Nugent, longtime champion of the liberal arts and former president of Kenyon College, was appointed to a one-year position as interim president in 2015, while The College of Wooster conducted a search to replace President Cornwell who accepted a position as president of Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. During her term, Nugent led the search for a new vice president of student affairs, rallied support for the \u201cWooster\u2019s Promise\u201d fundraising campaign, oversaw the replacement of Holden Annex with a beautiful new Brush Hall, launched the \u201cOne Wooster\u201d campus community building initiative, and served as the Class of \u201916 commencement speaker. In her address, Nugent said, \u201cThe concern among Wooster students for social justice and their commitment to the community are the graduate qualities we value most.\u201d Following her remarks, Nugent was presented with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, for her service to the liberal arts and the College.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       PRESIDENT 12 \u2014 BOLTON\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:20px\">\n      12\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/Image-8-18-26-at-12.54-e1787078157522.jpeg\" alt=\"Sarah R. Bolton\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;object-position:center top\">\n<\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Twelfth President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Sarah R. Bolton, Ph.D.\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            2016\u20132022\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Sarah R. Bolton joined The College of Wooster in 2016 as its 12th president. During her tenure, she invested in every area of the College and built strategic connections across disciplines, teams, cultures, and differences to support the thriving of every student. The \u201cConnect, Create, Discover\u201d strategic plan guided much of the transformation accomplished in her years as president. Sustained strong enrollments and fundraising fueled this work amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolton\u2019s work built on a history of academic excellence introducing five new interdisciplinary majors in environmental geoscience, environmental studies, education, global media and digital studies, and statistical and data sciences; expanding experiential learning opportunities; supporting strategic new academic pathways and connections; and cultivating a more global and anti-racist community and curriculum. In addition to continuing to build the internationality and diversity of the student body, staff, and faculty, Bolton collaborated with the community to create Wooster\u2019s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategic plan. Under her leadership, Wooster\u2019s endowment performance soared from $263 million to more than $431 million. Bolton stewarded the completion of the record-setting $190-million-dollar \u201cWooster\u2019s Promise\u201d campaign and led the $40 million renovation of Lowry Center, transforming it into a space that supports community building, leadership development, and Wooster\u2019s commitment to a thriving, diverse community.\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/details>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       INTERIM PRESIDENT \u2014 WEBSTER\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;display:grid;grid-template-columns:85px minmax(0,1fr);column-gap:25px;margin:0 0 58px 0\">\n\n    <div style=\"width:85px;height:85px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #b9a86f;border-radius:50%;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:17px;text-align:center;line-height:1.15\">\n      INT.\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"overflow:hidden;background:#fffdf8;border:1px solid #d4cbb8\">\n\n      <div style=\"height:5px;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n      <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:250px minmax(0,1fr);gap:40px;padding:35px;align-items:center\">\n\n        <div style=\"width:250px;height:300px;overflow:hidden;background:#ddd5c4;border:10px solid #eee8da\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2026\/08\/wayne-webster-500x500-1-e1787073236246.jpg\" alt=\"Wayne P. Webster\" style=\"display:block;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover\">\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div>\n\n          <div style=\"margin-bottom:12px;color:#8a7212;font-size:11px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:2.5px;text-transform:uppercase\">\n            Interim President\n          <\/div>\n\n          <h2 style=\"margin:0 0 17px;color:#201e19;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:34px;font-weight:400;line-height:1.17\">\n            Wayne P. Webster\n          <\/h2>\n\n          <div style=\"display:inline-block;padding:8px 14px;background:#211f1a;color:#f7bf0a;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.5px\">\n            2022\u20132023 \u00b7 Interim\n          <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n      <details>\n\n        <summary style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:19px 35px;cursor:pointer;color:#3b372f;font-size:13px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1px;text-transform:uppercase;border-top:1px solid #d9d1c0;list-style:none\">\n\n          Read Presidential History\n\n          <span style=\"width:32px;height:32px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border:1px solid #c8b66f;border-radius:50%;color:#665617;background:#f7f1df;font-size:19px\">\n            +\n          <\/span>\n\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div style=\"padding:5px 35px 35px;color:#464137;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.85\">\n\n          Wayne Webster served for five years as The College of Wooster\u2019s vice president for advancement before assuming the role of interim president in July of 2022. As vice president for advancement, he led the public phase of the record-holding $190 million Wooster\u2019s Promise campaign, which resulted in a state-of-the-art life sciences building and significant endowment growth to help support strategic initiatives. Wooster\u2019s endowment grew by more than $140 million under his leadership. During his interim term, Webster led the successful completion of the $40 million Lowry Center expansion and renovation and worked with donors to establish the first director of campus sustainability. Webster oversaw the restructuring of the Office of Human Resources, instituted new and revised handbooks and employment policies, and mobilized support for a new campus Enterprise Resource Planning system. He was also instrumental in working with students and alumni to create, sustain, and administer the Black Student Equity Fund at Wooster. He now serves as the 18th president of Albion College. <\/div> <\/details> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n     \n\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       CLOSING\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"position:relative;margin:75px 0 0 110px;padding:55px 45px;overflow:hidden;background:#201e19;text-align:center\">\n\n    <div style=\"position:absolute;top:15px;left:15px;right:15px;bottom:15px\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;width:60px;height:3px;margin:0 auto 20px auto;background:#f7bf0a\"><\/div>\n\n    <div style=\"position:relative;margin:0 0 12px;color:#fffdf6;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:30px;font-weight:400\">\n      A Continuing History\n    <\/div>\n\n    <p style=\"position:relative;max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;color:#d6d0c2;font-family:Georgia,&apos;Times New Roman&apos;,serif;font-size:15px;line-height:1.75\">\n\n      Each presidency has added another chapter to the story of The College of Wooster. Together, these leaders form a tradition of intellectual ambition, community, service, and an enduring commitment to the liberal arts.\n\n    <\/p>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n  <!-- =======================================================\n       MOBILE \/ TABLET SAFETY NOTE\n       ======================================================= -->\n\n  <div style=\"display:none\">\n\n    <!--\n      This page intentionally uses inline styles so it can be\n      pasted directly into a WordPress Custom HTML block.\n    -->\n\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Presidential Archive Past Presidents From the founding of the University of Wooster in 1866 to The College of Wooster today, those who have led the institution have helped shape its character, traditions, intellectual life, and enduring liberal arts mission. 1870 \u2014 Present &nbsp; \u00b7 &nbsp; A Presidential History The history of The College of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1157,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-789","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=789"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":839,"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions\/839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.wooster.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}