Stephens President Wendy Libby to become next president at Stetson University

COLUMBIA — Stephens College President Wendy Libby, 57, is leaving Columbia to become president at Stetson University in central Florida.

After being approached by a search firm for Stetson, Libby accepted the job as the university’s ninth president; she will be its first female president. Libby has been at Stephens for six years.

“Wendy, in her years here at Stephens, has led a remarkable transformation, really led the turnaround here,” said Amy Gipson, vice president of marketing and public relations at Stephens. “She accepted the presidency knowing that Stephens is in strong shape and is ready to move forward.”  

Libby is credited with increasing Stephens’ full-time undergraduate enrollment by 72 percent from when she started in 2003 to this fall, a press release from Stetson states. But Sara Fernandez Cendon, the media relations manager at Stephens, said Libby’s greatest accomplishments are refreshing Stephens’ image and rekindling the support of the college’s alumni and friends.

“We are stronger and revitalized, and we are excited about her future but certainly sad to see her go,” Fernandez Cendon said.

Libby’s presidency at Stetson will take effect July 1.