Meet the New President
On March 25, about 300 students, faculty, staff and community members gathered in Winebrenner Theological Seminary for the announcement of the next president. When Dr. C. Richard Beckett, chair of the Board of Trustees and of the search committee, announced, “Our 17th president of The University of Findlay will be Dr. Katherine Fell,” the first of three standing ovations erupted.
Fell, who is currently serving as vice president for advancement at Centenary College, Shreveport, La., will officially begin her tenure on July 1.
After taking the stage to another ovation, Fell began, “Dr. Beckett, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students of The University of Findlay, you have made Roger and me a grand and generous offer, and we wholeheartedly accept.”
“President Freed and the Board of Trustees have led the University with wisdom, grace and discipline,” she continued, complimenting the current leadership and all those work to build the Findlay community. “You are to be commended … what once was Findlay College is now a University six colleges strong.’’
“All of us together will plan a vision for one Findlay, for a united path,” she said. “You, and we together, will create a community the world will pay attention to.”
In announcing Fell’s selection, Beckett touted her range of experience, from academe to administration to development.
“Dr. Fell’s experience in the administrative affairs of a fine institution, having served on the Cabinet for six years, complemented by her solid academic credentials and success in fundraising, give us great confidence in her ability to set the future course for The University of Findlay. She is extremely articulate in making the case for private higher education, with poise, grace and confidence. Dr. Fell will build on the fine work done by Dr. DeBow Freed to take us to the next level of prominence,” said Dr. Beckett.
The selection of Fell came after a national search was launched in October 2009, following Freed’s announcement that he would step down after leading the University for seven years. A search committee was formed representing University constituencies including trustees, faculty, staff, students and community members.
“The University of Findlay’s strengths include multifaceted academic programs, outstanding faculty, eager students, a close-knit community, student-centered pedagogy, vibrant student life, a strong and balanced connection to the Churches of God, a long and honorable history, a commitment to broadening the student population, and a beautiful setting,” Fell said. “The dual role of professor and administrator [at Centenary] has been a gift, allowing me to observe and play a part in the wonderful growth of intellect and spirit of students. Because The University of Findlay is clearly a place where such growth is nurtured, a place of transformative learning, I welcome the opportunity to lead the University.”
During Fell’s tenure in development at Centenary, she assisted with the successful completion of a fund-raising campaign for which the institution set an initial goal of $70 million, increased it to $90 million and reached a total of $103 million.
Since becoming vice president for advancement at Centenary in 2004, she has launched a new comprehensive campaign, “Fulfill the Promise,” which in two years has raised gifts and pledges totaling $40 million, on track to achieve its goal despite the worldwide economic downturn. During her years at Centenary, the endowment tripled to more than $120 million at its high point.
Since joining the development team, first as director of foundation and corporate relations from 1998-2000 and then as director of development from 2000-2004, Fell has worked with senators and representatives to secure $3 million in grants for the sciences and campus security. Her work with the state government over the past 11 years has resulted in five first-generation scholarships, 88 endowed professorships, two endowed chairs and one endowed super chair in communications, representing a total in private and state donations of $13.3 million.
Fell began her tenure at Centenary in 1986 as a faculty member in the Department of English. During her 14 years as a professor, she developed an interdisciplinary major in communication, which grew to become one of the college’s strongest majors; taught a variety of introductory and upper-level English courses; published scholarly articles and presented at conferences.
When Centenary was selected to participate in a nationwide project on transformation in higher education sponsored by the American Council on Education and the Kellogg Foundation, Fell led Centenary’s ACE-Kellogg team and contributed to an ACE article on how to achieve essential change on a private, church-related college campus. She served as a member of the Pew Higher Education Roundtable, sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
A native of Stamps, Ark., Fell earned a bachelor of science in education in English, with a minor in speech, from Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, and a master of arts in English from Louisiana Technical University in Ruston. She completed a Ph.D. in English from Texas A&M University at College Station.
She and her husband, Roger, are the parents of six children.
“Roger and I are honored to be invited into the wonderful University of Findlay community. All of us together will shape and communicate Findlay’s distinctive mission and vision,” Fell said.