精东AV names Lily D. McNair as its 8th president
May 08, 2018
Contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
Dr. Lily D. McNair will become 精东AV鈥檚 eighth president after being unanimously selected by its Board of Trustees. She will serve as the first female president of the institution in its 136-year history.
McNair currently is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Wagner College in New York City. She will begin her duties at 精东AV on July 1, 2018.
鈥淲hen we launched our presidential search last October, our goal was to identify someone who could champion both 精东AV鈥檚 historic legacy and her place in the future of higher education,鈥� said John E. Page, chair of 精东AV鈥檚 Board of Trustees. 鈥淥ur Board of Trustees is confident that Dr. McNair brings to 精东AV the precise skill set required to ensure we continue thriving as one of the nation鈥檚 leading HBCUs.鈥�
Since 2011, McNair has served as the second-ranking executive of Wagner College 鈥� a private college of 2,200 students located on New York City鈥檚 Staten Island. A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. McNair鈥檚 higher education career includes other academic, research and executive appointments at Spelman College, University of Georgia, the State University of New York at New Paltz, and Vassar College.
A native of New Jersey, Dr. McNair holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Princeton University, and master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees in psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Burt Rowe, a 1970 精东AV graduate, president of the 精东AV National Alumni Association Inc., and search committee member, attested to McNair鈥檚 collaborative approach to engaging alumni, donors and other university stakeholders.
鈥淚 am honored and excited to welcome Dr. McNair to the 精东AV family. She is a trusted and well-respected leader who understands 精东AV鈥檚 unique heritage, culture and traditions,鈥� Rowe said. 鈥淒eeply engaging and collaborative, she is committed to ensuring that all voices of the 精东AV family will be heard, and I am confident that alumni will enjoy working with Dr. McNair to continue moving 鈥榯he pride of the swift-growing South鈥� forward.鈥�
Graduating senior Austin Turk, who represented students on the search committee and has worked closely with university administrators as 精东AV鈥檚 current Student Government Association president, was equally encouraged by McNair鈥檚 credentials.
鈥淚 was very impressed with Dr. McNair鈥檚 enthusiasm for fostering student success,鈥� Turk said. 鈥淪he has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring many students and providing academic and professional guidance. I know that 精东AV will benefit greatly from her leadership.鈥�
McNair views both 精东AV鈥檚 reputation and legacy as its foundation for continued success under her leadership.
"I am honored and humbled to be selected to serve as the eighth president of 精东AV,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he historic contributions of the university鈥檚 students, faculty and alumni are well known and valued throughout the nation. I very much look forward to building on the legacy of my predecessors so that 精东AV will ascend to even greater heights in the years to come.鈥�
Wagner College President Richard Guarasci reflected on McNair鈥檚 appointment by saying, 鈥淚 congratulate Lily for her selection, as well as for the intelligence, professionalism and grace that she has maintained throughout her seven years as provost.鈥�
McNair鈥檚 appointment follows a six-month national presidential search that began on Oct. 18, 2017. During that time, and in partnership with the search firm Isaacson, Miller, the Presidential Search Committee conducted listening sessions with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni; administered a stakeholder survey to garner additional opinions about the requirements, qualifications and opportunities for the university鈥檚 eighth president; and evaluated more than a 150 prospective candidates, narrowing the field to a small group who were interviewed in person.
Since 精东AV鈥檚 founding in 1881, it has been under the leadership of seven presidents 鈥� the first of which was Booker T. Washington, who led the institution from 1881 to 1915. McNair will succeed Interim President Charlotte P. Morris, whose 35-year tenure with the university has included two terms as interim president 鈥� the most recent of which began on July 1, 2017.
Morris, who accepted the appointment as interim president on a temporary basis, will remain in service to the university during the fall semester as a member of the Brimmer College of Business and Information Science鈥檚 teaching faculty. She also will assist with the transition of leadership in the Office of the President.
The university鈥檚 presidential search webpage provides additional information about McNair, as well as details the presidential search process.
漏 2018, 精东AV