Dr. H. Douglas Lee to serve as Stetson University chancellor upon retirement

Dr. H. Douglas Lee, president of Stetson University since 1987, will continue to serve the university as chancellor upon his announced retirement May 31, 2009.

"Doug Lee's exceptional vision and courage for 21 years have been instrumental in making a Stetson education a transforming process that unites academic excellence with a passion for social justice," said Nestor de Armas, chair of the Board of Trustees. "We, as a board, were unanimous in seeking Doug's continued presence, wisdom and counsel during Stetson's transition to a new presidency and beyond."

Following an energetic national search, the Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Wendy B. Libby, president of Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., as its new president. She was first introduced today to students, faculty and staff during a ceremony in historic Elizabeth Hall Chapel and will begin serving as Stetson's ninth president effective July 1, 2009.

A native of Danville, Va., Lee will be the third Stetson president to serve as chancellor, an honorary position equivalent to president emeritus. He follows Dr. J. Ollie Edmunds and Dr. Pope A. Duncan, both of whom were university chancellors following their presidential terms.

As Stetson's chancellor, he will serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees in a support role defined by President Libby, Lee said.

"Wendy and I haven't yet had an opportunity to discuss how she sees my responsibilities as chancellor," Lee said. "My goal will be to help in whatever way she asks as we continue to take Stetson's commitment to academic excellence and personal and community transformation into a second century. It will be a privilege to work with this dynamic, creative and courageous new president."

And Lee smiles when referring to his "other" important plans.

"My other goal will be to stay focused on the facts that I will have retired and have five grandchildren who need Margaret and me," he said.

For Doug and Margaret Lee and their family, Stetson and DeLand have been home for three decades. He came to Stetson as vice president for development in 1978, moving from a similar position at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Prior to that he was a member of the administration and religion faculty at Virginia Intermont College, Bristol.

Lee holds a doctorate in religion from the University of Iowa, Iowa City; Master of Theology and Bachelor of Divinity degrees from Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.; and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Richmond in Virginia.

For questions, contact Cheryl Downs, director of Media and Public Communications, at 386-822-7213 (office) or 386-717-5836.

Celebrating its 125^th Anniversary this year, Stetson University in central Florida is committed to grass-roots empowerment and social justice, especially for the marginalized and disinherited. The university not only seeks to transform its students, faculty, staff and alumni, but also works to transform its larger community through engaged relationships and lively intellectual discourse. The university is made up of four colleges and schools. The College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration and School of Music are housed on the historic main campus in DeLand, located between Orlando and Daytona Beach. The university also includes the Stetson University Center at Celebration, near Orlando, and two Stetson University College of Law campuses in Tampa Bay. For more information, visit www.stetson.edu.