THE LIBBY YEARS
Introducing Next Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, is poised — literally — to take the lead as the new president. BY MICHAEL CANDELARIA
C
hristopher F. Roellke, PhD, took the stage at Lee Chapel with an air of confidence amid rousing applause. It was Nov. 21, 2019, as part of Roellke’s official introduction on the Stetson DeLand campus.
Standing tall, Roellke spoke about his vision and strategic priorities, commenting they are “best created collaboratively and not by a single appointed leader.” Perhaps true. Yet, all eyes were on him. And, most assuredly, they’ll remain that way for Roellke, who was Dean of the College from 2008 to 2018 and is a professor of education at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. He also carries the title of Dean of the College Emeritus at Vassar. Roellke will take over as Stetson’s 10th president July 1, following his unanimous selection by the Stetson Board of Trustees to replace Wendy B. Libby, PhD, who is retiring. On this November morning, Roellke didn’t flinch. Following words of congratulations for Libby and her husband, Richard M. Libby, PhD, for all they have accomplished at Stetson since 2009, Roellke laid out six priorities for Stetson in DeLand, as well as its College of Law in Gulfport and satellite center in Tampa. • “We will strive to broaden and deepen Stetson’s rigorous personalized and experiential education in the liberal arts and sciences, in music, in business and in law.” • “We will strive to make a Stetson education more accessible, affordable and attainable, and we will do everything we can to promote student retention and success.” • “We will strive to strengthen Stetson’s financial base so that this form of education can be preserved for generations that follow, and so that Stetson can weather marketplace and economic fluctuations, and 46
STETSON | Spring 2020
to enable Stetson to innovate and to embrace new curricular priorities.” • “Despite our geographic challenges, we will strive to continue to build One Stetson across our multiple campuses — a community that is steadfast in its commitment to diversity and inclusion, a community that acknowledges the contributions made by all who work at and support Stetson to make our complex organization thrive.” • “We will stay laser-focused on how students learn and how best to help them learn — providing rich and challenging experiences both within and outside the classroom.” • “We will be proactive, not reactive, in the rapidly changing higher education landscape and will not shy away from challenges — challenges that inevitably will come.” For good measure, Roellke added: “Stetson has accomplished many of these things, and I know all of you are rightfully expecting your new president to build on this very positive momentum.” There was no hesitation. By all accounts, don’t expect any from this self-described lifelong educator who will bring “an outstanding record of energetic leadership in higher education and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities Stetson University faces,” according to Joe Cooper ’79, MBA ’82, who chaired the Presidential Search Committee and is chair of the Board of Trustees. Roellke had spent 21 years as a professor and administrator at Vassar College. In 2008, Roellke was appointed Dean of the College
