Illinois Wesleyan University president to step down at end of school year

BLOOMINGTON (25News Now) - Illinois Wesleyan’s first female president is leaving office at the end of the school year on July 31, 2024, according to a release.

S. Georgia Nugent became the university’s interim president in August 2019 and became the school’s 20th president that November.

“I have deeply appreciated the confidence the Board has placed in me,” Nugent wrote in a letter to the IWU community. “I have cherished every opportunity to meet with our amazing alumni — who are so grateful for their IWU education and so effective and successful in their chosen paths after graduation. My interactions with current bright and engaging students convince me that they, too, will accomplish great things.

Timothy J. Szerlong ‘74, chair of the IWU Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for Nugent’s skills in guiding the University.

”She has been a passionate champion for IWU and has left an indelible imprint in shaping our future,” he said. “From very early in her tenure, Georgia has been willing to make tough but necessary decisions, motivated by ensuring the brightest future for IWU and an unwavering commitment to shaping a contemporary liberal arts experience for today’s and tomorrow’s students — all steadily guided by the highest integrity and pursuit of excellence.”

Szerlong credits Nugent’s leadership for minimizing disruption to the University during COVID. Also during Nugent’s time at IWU, the School of Business & Economics and School of Nursing and Health Sciences were formed; the Greg Yess ‘82 Bloomberg Finance Lab was dedicated; the University hired its first Cabinet-level diversity officer; major renovations to first-year residences have begun; enrollment reflects increased student diversity and a record increase in transfer students; new articulation agreements have been developed with partner community colleges; and four new intercollegiate sports and several new academic programs have been added.

Szerlong said in the release that as the University has begun the early stages of preparation for its next comprehensive campaign, Nugent determined that she should make way for a new leader who would be present for its launch and see the effort through the many years to its completion.

The search for her replacement begins immediately.

During her remaining tenure at IWU, she will be actively engaged with the faculty to further expand program offerings and student enrichment.

Nugent came to Illinois Wesleyan after serving as president of Kenyon College for 10 years and later as interim president of The College of Wooster.

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