MC community welcomes President-Elect Stuebner to campus

by Gi Smith

Marietta, OH (05/15/2024) — The Marietta College campus community welcomed a very special guest on Wednesday, two months ahead of her official start date of July 15.

President-Elect Sue Stuebner spent the day on campus meeting with College leadership, and was introduced by interim President Margaret L. Drugovich to more than a hundred students, faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees members on campus during an informal meet-and-greet in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. Dr. Stuebner told the crowd a little about who she is, why she is excited to join the Marietta College community, and a few thoughts about her focus when she takes office in July.

"Throughout my career, as Margaret mentioned, my professional passion has been on the sustainability of private, regional colleges that don't have students who come from high means or institutions that have a billion - or a 'B' in front of their endowment," Marietta's 21st President said. "This model of institution that transforms students' lives has to be here for our students across the country, and it's just a delight to be able to join Marietta and do that work."

Her focus on that area is rooted in her time as an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College, where she majored in Psychology, completed a senior thesis in Creative Writing, played four years on the women's basketball team, served as a Big Sister to a teen with Down's syndrome, was in a sorority and a member of a senior leadership society.

"So I had the full liberal arts experience, and it was a transformative experience for me that launched me into higher education," she said, adding that her career path as an admission counselor, head basketball coach, executive vice president, and eventually President of Colby-Sawyer College prepared her for her Marietta College presidency.

She said Marietta's longstanding commitment to the liberal arts, its distinctive programs, the emphasis on experiential education, and the incredible sense of community drew her to the position.

"Marietta Forward (the College's strategic plan) is a great roadmap for the institution. One of the most critical things that small private colleges have to do today is to be able to articulate what their value is to students and the broader community," she said, adding that the most pressing areas of the strategic plan must be addressed immediately.

During the meet-and-greet, Dr. Stuebner was presented letters of welcome by Faculty Council, Staff Council, and the Student Government Association. After her remarks, she spent time meeting students and employees in attendance.

Theatre major Hinata Sotsuda '26 (Kamakura-Shi, Japan) was happy to be able to hear Dr. Stuebner's initial address to campus.

"She seems really nice and seems considerate about my college experience," Sotsuda said. "Her background seems impressive."

Dr. Bob Van Camp, a Professor in the Mathematics, Computing & Information Systems Department, was among several faculty members in attendance.

"It's impressive to see that her background over the past 30 years has prepared her for this, and she seems like a nice person," he said. "The fact that she has done some of the things that are in the strategic plan - like the addition of graduate programs - is also good for the College."

Staff also made up a large portion of employees in attendance eager to meet the new president.

"As a staff member, I am excited to be able to meet President-Elect Stuebner and welcome her to our special Marietta College family," said Connie Legraen, Executive Coordinator for the Office of Advancement. "As a member of the Advancement team, I look forward to supporting her efforts to engage our wonderful alumni and generous donor community."

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy, founded in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today, Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers over 50 majors and is consistently ranked among the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Marietta was selected seventh in the nation according to the Brookings Institution's rankings of colleges by their highest value added, regardless of major.

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