President Nugent Announces Plans to Step Down in 2024
Oct. 20, 2023
BLOOMINGTON — S. Georgia Nugent announced today her decision to step down as president of Illinois Wesleyan University at the conclusion of this academic year, on July 31, 2024.
Nugent joined Illinois Wesleyan as interim president in August 2019, and was selected as the University's 20th
president in November that year. She is the first woman to serve as the University's president.
"I have deeply appreciated the confidence the Board has placed in me," Nugent wrote in a letter to the IWU community. "I have cherished every opportunity to meet with our amazing alumni — who are so grateful for their IWU education and so effective and successful in their chosen paths after graduation. My interactions with current bright and engaging students convince me that they, too, will accomplish great things.
"The Bloomington-Normal community has also been very welcoming to my husband, Tom Scherer, and me. The relationship and collaboration among the three higher education institutions in the twin cities and other community organizations is a special treasure."
Timothy J. Szerlong '74, chair of the IWU Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude for Nugent's skills in guiding the University.
"She has been a passionate champion for IWU and has left an indelible imprint in shaping our future," he said. "From very early in her tenure, Georgia has been willing to make tough but necessary decisions, motivated by ensuring the brightest future for IWU and an unwavering commitment to shaping a contemporary liberal arts experience for today’s and tomorrow’s students — all steadily guided by the highest integrity and pursuit of excellence."
Szerlong credits Nugent's leadership for minimizing disruption to the University during COVID. Also during Nugent's time at IWU, the School of Business & Economics and School of Nursing and Health Sciences were formed; the Greg Yess '82 Bloomberg Finance Lab was dedicated; the University hired its first Cabinet-level diversity officer; major renovations to first-year residences have begun; enrollment reflects increased student diversity and a record increase in transfer students; new articulation agreements have been developed with partner community colleges; and four new intercollegiate sports and several new academic programs have been added.
Szerlong said that as the University has begun the early stages of preparation for its next comprehensive campaign, Nugent determined that she should make way for a new leader who would be present for its launch and see the effort through the many years to its completion.
During her remaining tenure at IWU, she will be actively engaged with the faculty to further expand program offerings and student enrichment.
Prior to her time at IWU, Nugent served for 10 years as president of Kenyon College, and later as interim president at The College of Wooster. She taught on the classics faculties of Brown University, Cornell, Kenyon and Swarthmore College and served in many leadership roles at her alma mater, Princeton University.
The search for Illinois Wesleyan's 21st president will begin immediately. WittKieffer Executive Search will assist with the search, and the search committee will be chaired by Trustee Tom Lawrence '80.
See Nugent's letter to the IWU community .