Sarah R. Bolton joined The College of Wooster in 2016 as its 12th president. During her tenure, she invested in every area of the College and built strategic connections across disciplines, teams, cultures, and differences to support the thriving of every student. The “Connect, Create, Discover” strategic plan guided much of the transformation accomplished in her years as president. Sustained strong enrollments and fundraising fueled this work amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolton’s work built on a history of academic excellence introducing five new interdisciplinary majors in environmental geoscience, environmental studies, education, global media and digital studies, and statistical and data sciences; expanding experiential learning opportunities; supporting strategic new academic pathways and connections; and cultivating a more global and anti-racist community and curriculum.
In addition to continuing to build the internationality and diversity of the student body, staff, and faculty, Bolton collaborated with the community to create Wooster’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategic plan. Under her leadership, Wooster’s endowment performance soared from $263 million to more than $431 million. Bolton stewarded the completion of the record-setting $190-million-dollar “Wooster’s Promise” campaign and led the $40 million renovation of Lowry Center, transforming it into a space that supports community building, leadership development, and Wooster’s commitment to a thriving, diverse community.