Presidential Search
Karlyn Crowley Named 19th President of Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College has named Karlyn Crowley, provost at Ohio Wesleyan University, as its 19th president following a national search. Crowley was appointed by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees and will begin her role as president on July 1, 2026.
As provost of OWU, Karlyn Crowley has led a series of transformative academic initiatives that introduced new programs in areas like public health and engineering and established a competencies-based general education model tied to career outcomes; co-led a retention initiative that achieved the largest first-to-second year retention increase in OWU’s history; and established several strategic and philanthropic partnerships that have led to enrollment increases, new pathways to advance degrees for students, and a university-wide faculty development center. Prior to joining Ohio Wesleyan, Dr. Crowley served as the interim assistant vice president for academic affairs, founding director of the Cassandra Voss Center, and a professor of English and women’s and gender studies at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies from Earlham College.
Presidential Welcome: All Campus Gathering
Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a special all-campus gathering to welcome Dr. Karlyn Crowley, Kalamazoo College’s 19th president-elect, to the K community.
The gathering will take place at 11 a.m. (EDT), Monday, May 18, in Stetson Chapel and will include remarks from Board of Trustees Chair Jody Clark ’80 and President-Elect Crowley.
A livestream also will be available for alumni, family and friends who would like to join remotely.
Search Firm and Committee
The national search effort will be led by Board of Trustees Chair Jody Clark ’80 with the support of a search advisory committee comprised of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and student representatives. Kalamazoo College has extended our partnership with DSG Storbeck, a leading academic executive search firm, to assist the search committee in its important work. Over the years, the Storbeck team was engaged in the searches that yielded our most recent president and several other senior leaders. The search will be led by Susan VanGilder, Managing Director and Steven Solnick, Global Managing Partner & Practice Leader, Education.
Search Committee
- Jody Clark ’80 (Search Chair) | Chair, Board of Trustees
- Tim Baker | Advancement Staff
- Beau Bothwell | Music Faculty
- Kennedy Campbell ’26 | Student
- Michelle Fanroy ’88 | Alumni Association Engagement Board, Trustee
- Teresa Fiocchi | Admission Staff
- Don Hafner ’66 | Trustee
- Christine Hahn | Art History Faculty
- Charlotte Hall ’66 | Trustee
- Ed Hortelano ’83 | Trustee
- Terri Kline ’80 | Trustee
- Morgan Loechli | Physics Faculty
- Chris Reynolds ’83 | Trustee
- Jon Stryker ’82 | Trustee
About K
Nationally renowned and globally oriented, Kalamazoo College is the home of the K-Plan, an individualized and integrated approach to the liberal arts and sciences. The K-Plan combines exceptional scholarship, study abroad, career development, civic engagement and independent research in a flexible curriculum that allows students to make the most of their unique interests and gifts. At K, we embrace our motto—“More in Four. More in a Lifetime.”—by offering students more opportunities to explore, more faculty and staff mentorship and support, and more preparation for meaningful careers that make a positive impact on the world.
1,278 students from 33 states and 26 countries
10:1 student to faculty ratio
One of 45 Colleges that Change Lives
Rated a Best College, Best Value College and Best Midwest by Princeton Review
Search News and Updates
The Presidential Search Committee will provide periodic updates throughout the search process for K’s 19th president. News stories and email updates will be available here.
Presidential Search Update: March 2026
Dear K Community, I’m writing to share an update on the progress of the presidential search. The strength of K’s mission and reputation has attracted interest from an impressive and highly qualified pool of candidates, and the search committee is intentionally taking the time necessary to ensure we identify and recommend the right leader to…
Presidential Search Update: January 2026
On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am writing to share a brief update on the presidential search process. The search committee continues to make steady progress, and we are engaging in meaningful conversations with candidates from a strong pool of applicants. I continue to be impressed by the thoughtfulness and collaborative spirit that…
Presidential Search Update: September 2025
On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I’m pleased to share an update on the presidential search process, which has been ongoing and on-schedule over the summer months. Our consultants at DSG Storbeck have been actively recruiting candidates, and the committee is pleased with both the number and caliber of nominations and inquiries. The committee…