The University of Lynchburg’s president, Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, has been recognized as one of Education Insider’s “Top 10 University Presidents.” The award honors “bold and forward-thinking leaders who are reimagining the role of higher education in a rapidly shifting world.”
Morrison-Shetlar is the University’s first female president. She hails from the Isle of Bute, Scotland, and earned a PhD in biomedical sciences from Abertay University. After completing her postdoctoral research in London, she became chair of the molecular biology unit at the Max Planck Institute in Dortmund, Germany.
In the article, Morrison-Shetlar discusses her journey to becoming the University’s president, highlighting the challenges she has navigated while leading the institution and the necessity of embracing change along the way.
“Though it’s easy to see headwinds as obstacles,” said Morrison-Shetlar, a lifelong sailor, “I see headwinds as drivers of progress — they push us to adjust how we work and think.”
As she prepares for her next chapter, Morrison-Shetlar announced on Sept. 10, 2025, her decision to retire in the summer. After dedicating “more than four decades in research, teaching, and administration in higher education … I have decided it is the right time to pass the torch to a new leader who will guide this exceptional institution into its next chapter.”
Education Insider describes the president as “a higher education leader who is passionate about empowering students to reach their fullest potential. Her expertise in higher education, leadership, and talent innovation is transforming lives, both across campus and throughout the education community.”
