Concord University has welcomed the three finalists in its presidential search to The Campus Beautiful recently.

The Presidential Search Committee intends to continue its research and send its recommendations to the Board of Governors. They will deliberate on the recommendation at their upcoming April meeting with the intention to announce the school’s 13th president by April 30.

Beginning March 19, Concord’s students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community hosted:

• Dr. Keith Moore, who is currently the senior vice president at Virginia Wesleyan University
• Dr. Bethany Meighen, vice president of academic and student affairs in the University of North Carolina system
• Dr. Laura Jacobsen, the interim associate dean for interprofessional education at Radford University

After 41 years of dedicated service to Concord University, Dr. Kendra S. Boggess announced her retirement in 2024, making her departure effective in August. Dr. Boggess, the university’s first female president, took on the role in spring 2014 and has since led Concord through a transformative period marked by significant growth and resilience in the face of various challenges. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Boggess has been a visionary leader, guiding Concord University through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, funding cuts, and typical hurdles of higher education.

Reflecting on her presidency, Dr. Boggess expressed profound gratitude: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, and a touch of sadness that I plan to leave The Campus Beautiful and embark on my future retirement plans. I have been consistently buoyed by an extraordinary community through every challenge. It has truly been the honor of my lifetime to represent and help build our community at Concord University.”

Concord alum and optometrist Dr. Brad Lane is chairing the Presidential Search Committee tasked with finding Dr. Boggess’s successor.

“With Dr. Boggess’s announcement, it marks the end of a significant era of leadership and dedication. Her tenure has been characterized by a commitment to academic excellence, student success, shared governance, and community engagement. The search committee will diligently seek a leader who can uphold Concord University’s values, traditions, and also bring innovative ideas to guide the institution into the future,” Lane said in the wake of the retirement announcement. The University will hold a celebration of Dr. Boggess’s accomplishments on April 23 on the Athens campus.

For more information on the CU presidential search, visit https://www.concord.edu/presidential-search. Questions regarding the presidential search may be directed to cubog@concord.edu.