MEET THE
President
Leading with purpose, honoring our past, shaping an undeniably life-changing future.
MEET THE
MEET DR. Sally Coleman Selden
Sally Coleman Selden is the 12th president of the University of Lynchburg. Her presidency marks a meaningful homecoming, as she previously served the University for 18 years in a variety of academic and administrative leadership roles, including provost and vice president for academic affairs, associate provost, director of the Master of Business Administration and Master of Nonprofit Leadership Studies programs, and chair of the management program.
A native of nearby Appomattox, Virginia, Selden has deep personal and professional ties to the University and the region. Her father graduated from Lynchburg College in 1961, and her return reflects both a lifelong connection to the area and a continued commitment to the University’s mission.
Before returning to Lynchburg, Selden served as provost and dean at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, where she helped guide the college’s strategic vision, academic excellence, enrollment growth, student success, and fiscal planning. She oversaw five schools, more than 3,800 students, and 200 faculty members, while also chairing The Citadel’s fiscal review board.
During her tenure at The Citadel, the college recruited the four largest classes in its history, grew residential undergraduate enrollment by nearly 9%, achieved an 88% retention rate, and reached a 78% four-year graduation rate, the highest among South Carolina’s comprehensive public colleges. She also worked in partnership with The Citadel Foundation to support a $300 million campaign and helped increase sponsored funding by 346%.
Selden is an accomplished scholar and educator whose work has focused on leadership studies, human resources, and nonprofit management. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and a doctorate from the University of Georgia.
As president, Selden brings a student-centered, collaborative, and mission-driven leadership style to the University of Lynchburg. Her work is grounded in shared governance, academic innovation, inclusive excellence, and a deep belief in the power of the Lynchburg community to shape the University’s next chapter.
