Jews in the Land of Disney: Wendy B. Libby, first Jewish president of Stetson University

In 2009, Wendy B. Libby, Ph.D., a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn, became the ninth and first female president of Stetson University. Founded in 1883, Libby is also the first Jewish president. She officially retired on June 30, 2020, becoming president emerita.

When asked how it feels to retire, she remarked, "The most difficult thing for me about my retirement will be missing my friends and colleagues with whom I've worked for so many years. Living close to the campus will make my retirement more palatable as I still plan to come around from time to time."

But Libby is looking forward to sleeping in a bit and spending more time with her husband of 35 years, Richard, a retired college president, and their 13-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Puppy. She's also looking forward to spending more time with her children, her four grandchildren, her great-granddaughter, two great-grandsons and her leagues of friends.

The Libbys purchased a house in southeast DeLand, Florida, a few years ago in "preparation." Libby said that she loves DeLand and living close to the campus will allow them to continue to be the dedicated Stetson sports fans that they are. "During the entire time I was president, we've attended almost all of the sporting events on campus. That's not going to stop now," Libby said emphatically.

Stetson is part of the NCAA Division I. Libby has enhanced the athletics program through the introduction of women's lacrosse and beach volleyball programs and the reintroduction of football after a 57-year absence. During her tenure, Stetson saw the construction of the Athletics Training Center, Cooper Beach Volleyball Pavilion/Courts, the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center and the Edinger Golf Complex.

"The path to the presidency has been a long, wonderful, winding road," Libby said.

After receiving her undergraduate degree in biology from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, she earned her MBA at Cornell's Johnson School of Management. She went on to earn her doctorate in educational administration at the University of Connecticut in 1994.

After graduating with her Ph.D., Libby held a few posts in the for-profit world and then joined higher education. Her odyssey included Ithaca, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Hartford, Connecticut; Portland, Maine; Greenville, South Carolina; and finally Columbia, Missouri, before settling in DeLand.

One of those positions was with Furman University located in Greenville, South Carolina. She held the position of chief financial officer/vice president for Business Affairs from 1995 to May 2003. She then assumed the presidency of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, from 2003 until 2009. Stephens College, founded in 1833, is the second oldest women's institution in the United States. From there she came to Stetson.

During her tenure, Libby felt that her mission was to improve the student learning experience. "I always wanted to ensure that our students, during and after attending Stetson, felt they had made the right choice. Our work was to provide our students everything they needed to get an exemplary education and give them the ability to go on and live good and productive lives," Libby said.

Stetson now offers new majors and academics. Three new majors never existed in the past but because of advances in modern technologies the topics are viable today.

"We have a major called Centurion" Libby explained. "You can receive a degree in professional sales, food studies, sustainable food systems, economics of food deserts, cyber security, and ethical hacking. The students are encouraged to see if they can hack into our systems. Many have where professional companies have not," she added.

Total undergraduate enrollment today is 3,150 students, 44 percent are male and 56 percent female, 64 percent of the students live in college-owned, operated or affiliated housing and 36 percent live off campus.

There has always been a Jewish student body at Stetson, which has grown today to over 11 percent of the overall general student population.

Libby was instrumental in expanding the Hillel presence at Stetson. "There was a Hillel, but it had no physical presence on campus. In the early years it was student-led with a faculty or staff member as adviser. Our vice president of enrollment, Joel Baumen, and I were committed to expanding it, but more importantly, to offer our Jewish students programming that was relevant to their lives. We needed to find the funds to remodel, build and then support a professional staff."

Alan Ginsburg, whose grandson is a student at Stetson, donated the funds through the Ginsburg Family Foundation to renovate the Hillel House, which was named in the memory of his son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Diane Ginsburg. The House officially opened in November 2019.

"Stetson's Hillel has a Kosher kitchen and is now run by Sam Friedman who is doing a wonderful job for our over 300 Jewish student body. Sam directs the Jewish programming, recruits students and raises funds."

Libby also led Stetson through a period of significant growth and she leaves with the second five-year strategic plan at a close. She has guided an effort to enhance the reputation of Stetson, which is now ranked No. 5 in 2020-Regional Universities South. The law school has been ranked No.1 in the nation for trial advocacy for over 20 years.

Libby takes pride in her accomplishments.

• Since 2009 she has increased the undergraduate enrollment nearly 50 percent while increasing the quality of students, including its ethnic, racial and geographic diversity.

• She helped raise $218 million in the "From Success to Significance" campaign, which had a goal of $200 million. "In order to ensure financial viability of the campus we've increased our endowment to over 50 percent from when I came. This enables us the freedom to offer quality programming and ensures our self-sustainability for years to come."

• Libby rejuvenated Stetson's beautiful historic downtown DeLand campus and helped increase energy efficiency and she dramatically decreased the schools deferred maintenance.

• She put into place a newly-formed team of senior executives, who will carry on the mission of academic excellence and vitality of the university.

Libby has won a multitude of honors and awards over the years. The one she holds dear to her heart was being added to the Wall of Distinction at James Madison High School. Her name stands proud next to Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, famous writers and producers, and Olympians, such as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, actor Martin Landau, TV personality Judith Sheindlin (Judge Judy), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and singer/songwriter Carol King, to name a few.

"There is still plenty to do!" said Libby, as she serves as a director on the boards of a Volusia County community bank and a food service distributer in Tampa, continuing her role as the ASUN (Stetson is a member of this athletics conference) representative to the NCAA Division I President's Forum, consulting for a major higher educational professional association.

Libby leaves the university with strength and financial stability, which will ensure the financial independence of Stetson far into the future.

"You never really leave your alma mater. It's always with you," Libby said.