The Administration

The President

The Board of Trustees vests the executive responsibility for management of the College in the President, who has the authority to execute contracts and other agreements with the approval of the Board. In serving as the College’s chief administrative and educational officer, the President is responsible for the management of the College’s programs in all administrative and academic areas. The President serves as chair of the College Council and supervises directly the work of his/her senior staff.

Executive Assistant to the President

He or she is the senior administrative person in the Office of the President and can, on certain matters, speak on behalf of the President. He or she serves as Assistant Secretary of the Board, known as Centre College of Kentucky, and coordinates all matters relating administratively to the Board of Trustees. Along with the President, he or she in coordination with the Secretary of the College’s Board of Trustees, is authorized to file and execute legal documents, including but not limited to, the official minutes of the Board of Trustees.

Special Assistant to the President for Institutional Research and Special Events and Chief Planning Officer

He or she is in charge of collecting and analyzing data related to all aspects of the institution to be used in decision-making and the completion of national surveys, college guides, and official presentations. This individual is also responsible for the planning, coordination and implementation of many of the College’s special events, including the Opening Luncheon, Holiday Dinner, and Appreciation Dinner for all faculty and staff.

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College

He or she is the College’s chief academic officer. Working under appropriate policies and with relevant Council and faculty committees, the President, the Associate Dean, the division chairs, and other staff members, he or she has administrative responsibility for the College’s curriculum and academic program, as well as, certain administrative functions. He or she coordinates with the Board of Trustees Committee on Academic Affairs.

Associate Dean of the College

He or she assists the Vice President for Academic Affairs in administering all matters concerning the academic program of the College, including faculty and course evaluation, scheduling and calendar issues.

Associate Vice President for Acacemic Affairs and Diversity Initiatives

He or she has special focus on diversity initiatives and curricular oversight including the general education program. This position will assist in the creation and implementation of an institutional vision and strategy supporting the college’s commitment to building and strengthening a community enriched by our differences.

Vice President and Dean of Student Life

The Vice President and Dean of Student Life has general administrative responsibilities in all areas pertaining to student life, including housing, safety and security, residence life, Wellness Center, Chaplain Programs, volunteer services and student counseling. He or she coordinates with the Board of Trustees Committee on Student Life and Enrollment Management.

Vice President for Human Resources and Administrative Services

He or she is responsible for the oversight of functions that provide administrative services to the College including human resources, payroll, property management, Title IX Coordinator, the campus post office, vending services, the college bookstore, laundry services, College Cable contract and campus summer programs. He or she coordinates with the Board of Trustees Committee on Administrative Services.

Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement

He or she is the primary liaison between Centre College and its key non-academic constituencies, including alumni, parents, friends, and the surrounding community. Direction of alumni and parent relations, and fund-raising initiatives are major responsibilities of this office. He or she coordinates with the Board of Trustees Committee on Development and Public Affairs.

Dean of Admission and Student Financial Planning

He or she is responsible for the College’s efforts in student recruitment, financial aid, and participates in student retention initiatives. He or she coordinates with the College Council Committee on Enrollment Management and the Board of Trustees Committee on Student Life and Enrollment Management. This individual serves as the Senior Liaison for the College’s partnership with the Posse Foundation.

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

He or she is responsible for the administration of the general and other college funds, receipts and expenditures, and the preparation of a comprehensive annual operating budget and all necessary annual and periodic financial reports. He or she also directs the controller and risk management functions, as well as, the management of the College’s endowment in coordination with the President of the College and the Committees on Finance and Investments of the Board of Trustees. He or she also is responsible for the direction of the Facilities Management department and facility renovations.

Vice President for Legal Affairs and Gift Planning

The person in this position is responsible for managing all the legal affairs for the College, including representing the College before judicial, administrative, and governmental bodies, advising the Board of Trustees and senior administration on legal matters, hiring and supervising outside counsel, and participating in compliance and risk management activities. This person plays a leading role in the development function of the College, managing the planned giving operations, including soliciting and closing gifts, producing marketing materials, and providing stewardship to donors. In addition, the individual oversees the Norton Center for the Arts.

Chief Communications Officer

 The Chief Communications Officer leads the College’s image building and marketing efforts. He or she directs the production of the majority of the College’s publications, organization and design of the College web site, production and placement of advertising, and production and management of the College signage system. He or she is also responsible for public relations and media relations and is a spokesperson for the College.

Director of Athletics and Recreation

This person provides oversight, direction, and vision for the Department of Athletics and Recreation including 23 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, intramural sports, athletic training, event management, development activities, marketing, facilities management and enhancement, NCAA rule compliance, and media relations. He or she coordinates the College Council Committee on Athletics and Recreation.

Senior Philanthropy Advisor

By virtue of his or her educational attainment and experience in fundraising, the Senior Philanthropy Advisor is qualified to offer counsel and advice on matters of philanthropy to both prospective donors and College leaders. He or she works closely with the Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement and the Vice President for Gift Planning and Legal Affairs and reports to the President of the College.

Division Chairs

The instructional program of the College is organized into three academic divisions--Humanities, Social Studies, and Science and Mathematics--each chaired by a member of the Faculty under the general oversight of the Dean of the College. Division Chairs are appointed by the President on recommendation of the Dean and serve a three-year renewable term. During their tenure of office, Division Chairs are granted a reduction in their normal teaching load. In recognition of their additional responsibilities, especially during the summer months, they also receive an increase in their salaries for the duration of their terms.

Division Chairs administer the instructional budgets of their divisions. They approve all divisional expenditures for equipment, supplies, instructional materials, audio and video materials, and purchases for the library, as well as expenditures for special programs within their divisions. They work with the College Relations office to prepare grant proposals and to solicit funds from external agencies to help meet the equipment needs of the division and to enhance its academic programs. They also encourage members of the Faculty in their divisions to keep the College Relations and Communications offices informed of their professional activities, and they help publicize achievements of Faculty members in their divisions.

Division Chairs are responsible for general oversight of the Faculty within their divisions. They are ex officio members of all search committees formed to hire instructors within their divisions. They also help to oversee the acculturation and mentorship of new faculty hires. Together with the Dean of the College and the Associate Dean, they annually evaluate the performance of each member of the Faculty within their divisions and make recommendations to the Committee on Tenure and Reappointment concerning tenure and promotion.

Division Chairs are responsible for general oversight of the academic programs of their division. They coordinate the scheduling of courses and the assignment of members of the Faculty to teach them. They oversee the curricular development of their divisions and serve as ex officio members of the Curriculum Committee of the Faculty and the Planning and Priorities Committee.

Division Chairs serve as the liaison between the division and the administration of the College, and they advise the President, the Dean, and the Associate Dean. They are frequently consulted by the administration concerning the assignment of members of the division to committees of the Faculty and of the College Council, and the appointment of program chairs within their divisions. They are responsible for projecting and assessing the needs and interests of their divisions and for representing these to the College administration.

The Division Chairs represent the division and the College to outside agencies in matters relating to the academic interests of their divisions. They attempt to promote the academic interests of their divisions in the scheduling of lectures, concerts, plays, exhibits, and performances at the College and are responsible for integrating these into the course offerings within their divisions.

Senior Investment Advisor

The Senior Investment Advisor works closely with the CFO and Investment Committee of the Board to recommend asset-allocation decisions for the College's endowment. In addition, the Senior Investment Advisor screens and recommends new investment opportunities for the Investment Committee. The Senior Investment Advisor is also responsible for ensuring all investments and the overall asset allocation conforms with the College's Investment Policy Statement.

Program Chairs

Each academic program of the College is under the supervision of a program chair who reports to the appropriate Division Chair. Program chairs are responsible for scheduling courses within their program and for ensuring that the program's course offerings adequately meet the needs of students. They recommend to the registrar appropriate classrooms and time blocks for courses within their programs.

Program chairs serve as the liaison between the program and the administration.

They represent the program in divisional meetings when policy matters are determined and when divisional funds for equipment or for library purchases are allocated. They are responsible for monitoring the equipment and staffing needs of the program and for representing these to the administration. Program chairs generally serve on search committees formed to hire instructors within their program. Program chairs meet with members of the program committee on a regular basis during the academic year.

All proposals for curricular change within their program are reported by the program chairs through their respective Division Chair to the Curriculum Committee. Program chairs inform the Dean of the College of the names of elected majors to serve on their program committee. In general, programs will meet with majors soon after sophomore declaration in spring term to discuss selection procedures for naming students to program committees. Programs will normally have two student members, but in some circumstances may have one. Along with the Associate Dean, Program Chairs approve students’ requests for independent study courses. In consultation with their Faculty, program chairs are responsible for producing the annual program report and the program assessment report each summer. The office of program chair customarily rotates among the members of the program; the term of duty is typically three years in duration and the appointment is made by the Dean of the College, in consultation with the appropriate Division Chair.