'With humility': Mary Baldwin University president announces her retirement
STAUNTON — Following 20 years in the role, Pamela Fox announced Monday that she will be retiring as president of Mary Baldwin University effective June 30, 2023. The announcement came during the school's annual state of the university address.
"With humility, I have been extraordinarily honored to lead and serve alongside each of you," Fox said in a press release. "We have worked together with shared commitment to maintain our momentum with devotion to the mission, legacy, and promising future of Mary Baldwin University."
She was the school's ninth president and served longer in that position than anyone else since the school became a four-year college in 1923. She was named president in 2003, coming to Staunton from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and succeeding Cynthia Tyson.
Under Fox's leadership, Mary Baldwin transformed from an all-women's school to a coed university in 2017. At the time Mary Baldwin said enrollment was dropping and becoming coed allowed the school to remain viable. The decision wasn't received by all alumnae with open arms.
Fox was also in charge when Mary Baldwin launched a new branch campus and college for healthcare professionals in Fishersville. Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences opened in 2014 and offered the institution's first doctoral degrees.
"Pamela has charted a path to success for the next generation of students through innovative programmatic changes, executed with remarkable speed and success," said Gabrielle McCree, chair of the board of trustees, in the release.
During her tenure, Fox has served on boards for the American Shakespeare Center, Frontier Culture Museum, and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, per the release. In 2012, the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce named Fox its citizen of the year.
"It takes a leader with the most extraordinary qualities to guide an institution through such times and remain true to its mission," Jane Harding Miller, former chair of the board of trustees, said in the release. "Pamela has been such a leader, and while the Mary Baldwin of today looks quite different from that of 20 years ago, she has safeguarded its mission and spirit."
According to the release, other accomplishments under Fox include:
Added more than 30 new degrees or programs with a career focus, in the areas of nursing, business, health sciences, social work, autism studies, and more.
Spearheaded two of the largest fundraising campaigns in MBU history and personally secured the institution's future with transformational and record-breaking gifts from alumnae Bertie Murphy Deming Smith ’46 and Paula Stephens Lambert ’65.
Oversaw major campus improvements and construction, including extensive renovations to Pearce Science Center, the construction of SMA Worth Field to support the rapid growth in athletic programs, improvements to the Alumnae House, and the opening of a new Center for Student Success.
Created the Samuel and Ava Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement in 2007 to emphasize the importance of service learning and enrich student opportunities for local and global engagement.
Cultivated diversity, equity, and inclusion at MBU, including creating a social justice coalition, naming a chief diversity officer, supporting 25 years of the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and supporting a residential campus of more than 50% students of color.
Brought to Staunton the Heifetz International Music Institute, a famed summer training program for exceptional young string musicians.
Fox has also served on the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia, the USA South Athletic Conference, and the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, per the release.
"When we convinced Pamela to join us in 2003, we knew our future as a small liberal arts institution within an ever-evolving educational landscape would be challenging," Claire Lewis Arnold, former chair of the board of trustees, said in the release. “Pamela has met Mary Baldwin’s enormous challenges with extraordinary focus, unbounded energy, contagious enthusiasm, critical thinking, intelligent creativity, and visionary leadership, all grounded in realism, healthy self-awareness, and self-deprecating humor.
"Not only has she successfully led multiple transformational initiatives, she’s managed to do so while staying true to our mission and laying a solid foundation for her successors to continue our journey of intelligent evolution. She is an inspiration and a role model for leading positive change."
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As Fox prepares for her retirement, the release said the Office of University Advancement is partnering with alumni, university supporters, and the MBU Board of Trustees to honor her legacy through a special fundraising effort.
The Fox Futures Initiative will, the release said, "advance key academic programs, establish career-focused interdisciplinary curriculum, dramatically strengthen endowments, and fund campus improvements. It will also establish an innovative Center for Life Success that will offer premium professional and life-skills advising to drive student success from move-in day, to graduation, and beyond."
Mary Baldwin announced Monday nearly $7.5 million in new gifts from the Fox Futures Initiative, including significant gifts to name and endow the Palmer College of Professional Studies, the Betty Gold College of Arts and Sciences, and the McCree Center for Life Success, the release said.
"Pamela Fox has led MBU through one of the most transformative and sustained periods of growth and evolution in our history," McCree said. "Our board has witnessed and supported her leadership and continues to do so in her clearly articulated vision for this new era.
A celebration to honor Fox will be hosted by the Board of Trustees on April 13, 2023.
Higher education executive talent firm Academic Search will partner with the MBU presidential search committee and Board of Trustees to conduct the search to find the next MBU president with a goal of naming a successor in spring 2023, according to the release.
Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. 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's Pamela Fox announces retirement as president