Simpson College names Susan Stuebner as president

Susan Stuebner has been named the 26th president of Simpson College after serving as its interim leader during the fall semester.

The private university, located in Indianola, announced in a news release Tuesday its board of trustees unanimously selected Stuebner to officially take on the role after the completion of a performance review by higher education search firm Academic Search.

Stuebner joined Simpson as its interim president in late July after the death of president Jay Byers in April. When she was first introduced to campus, college board Chair Terry Handley said Stuebner and the board would decide together if she wanted to stay, in consultation with the Simpson community and subject to a review of her work during the fall semester.

He said in the release it was an “easy” decision to make in the end, looking at her past successes as a university president and hearing positive things about her from community members.

“Faculty, staff and student leaders were enthusiastic in their praise for President Stuebner and the many leadership strengths she brings to Simpson College,” Handley said in the release. “Sue’s authenticity and transparency in engaging with the campus community have already gone a long way in building early trust and confidence. The board is eager to partner with her in designing and realizing a promising future for Simpson.”

Before coming to Simpson, Stuebner served as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire for eight years, spending her last year before coming to Simpson as an adviser for the institution’s interim president.

In her first speech to the Simpson College community, Stuebner said Colby-Sawyer and Simpson were facing similar challenges, and she planned to bring the same model to Indianola of finding new revenue streams and building partnerships from popular programs.

Stuebner said in the release she is both “honored and humbled” by the board’s decision to keep her leading Simpson.

“From the moment I arrived on campus, I have resonated with the values and approach of this incredible learning community. Seeing our exceptional faculty and staff in action as they create a transformational educational experience for our students is truly inspiring,” Stuebner said in the release. “Simpson students and alumni exhibit so much passion about their time on campus and are making a difference in their professions and communities.

“I look forward to partnering with the Simpson community in pursuing new avenues of innovative excellence to further distinguish Simpson as a national leader in liberal arts education.”

This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch.