Dr. Bill Edgar, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees, current chair of the Board of Corporators, and past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will act as interim president beginning July 1, 2015. During his interim presidency the Board will conduct a search for a new president.

The Geneva College Board of Trustees announced on April 13 President Ken Smith’s resignation from Geneva, effective June 30, 2015. Smith has accepted a position as dean of the McLane College of Business at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas.

Smith committed to serve as president for eight years, and has now been president for eleven. His departure follows on the heels of Provost Ken Carson’s resignation to take a faculty position at Grove City College.

According to the Board’s announcement Smith and Carson made their decisions independently of each other, and were not encouraged by the board, either formally or informally. An email from Smith following up on the announcement echoed these statements.

Dr. Bill Edgar, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees, current chair of the Board of Corporators, and past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will act as interim president beginning July 1, 2015. During his interim presidency the Board will conduct a search for a new president.

Smith noted that during the transition, administration will develop a “Presidential Transition” web page to keep campus informed.

Melinda Stephens, Academic Dean of undergraduate programs, will serve as chief academic officer following Carson’s departure.

Edgar and Trustee Chair, Joye Huston, are hosting an open session with faculty following the conclusion of the Board of Trustees meeting, next Friday.

In his email to faculty, Smith said, “[Carson and I] both have confidence in the team in place and have every reason to believe that the College will prosper long into the future.”

Smith’s resignation comes at a tumultuous time for the College, who saw dozens of staff and faculty members leave for various reasons throughout the year. In August, the college listed eleven faculty and staff cuts, but additional cuts as well as voluntary departures continued throughout the academic year.