Everybody loves President elect Suzanne Shipley.
That much was clear at the press conference held to announce her selection as the new president of Shepherd University. Before she even spoke she was given a standing ovation.
By now you have probably heard all the details. Shipley is currently vice president of student academic affairs and dean of faculty at a College of Notre Dame of Maryland. She will succeed David Dunlop, who is retiring after 11 years as president. She will start July 1.
After the press conference, Shipley deftly handled the media. What is immediately apparent is that Shipley is articulate and engaging.
“That’s what we were looking for” says John Sherwood, chair of the univsesity board of governors. “She has terrific listening skills. This is what you need in a president. As well as the ability to lead.”
What no one mentioned was that Shipley will be Shepherd’s first female president. To this, Sherwood would say only, “She was the best. That is why we chose her. Not because she was a woman.”
“As soon as I came here it was an immediate fit,” Shipley said. “I look forward to the years ahead.”
When asked about relationships with the Town, Shipley said, “We should first try to get to know each other. I would be happy to sit on [a committee for] one or two organizations in town, to provide leadership, whatever the town wants me to do.” 
Mayor Lance Dom is eager for a new era in “town/gown” relations. “Since becoming mayor, I’ve had to create relationships with 30 to 40 organizations. Shepherd University has been by far the most disappointing.” Mayor Dom said that he set up a liaison committee to improve the coordination of the Town and the university, but it produced no concrete results. “They simply don’t care,” said Dom,
“It is a one-way relationship. We are the ones always petitioning them. Things can only get better. Yes we want them to be involved with our planning process, but more importantly, we need to be involved in their planning.”
Asked about the new president, Mayor Dom said “Of all the candidates we met during the selection process, Dr Shipley was the most responsive. I look forward to working with her on the three critical issues that impact the Town from the University. First, we need a real solution to the student parking in town. Second, we need to solve the crossing between the West and East campus on 480. We need an underpass or overpass. And third, we need to collaborate to create a pedestrian plaza in front of McMurran Hall where the lawns are.”

Who is Suzanne Shipley
2000-present, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
From 1994 to 2000, she was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of German at Northern Arizona University; previously a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati, where she was director of the Honors Program and chair of the German department.
Raised in Lubbock, Texas, she attended Texas Tech University. Her doctorate is in German from the University of Texas at Austin; she is a Fulbright Scholar.
Served on Arizona Governor’s taskforce for teacher education; currently on the Executive Board of the Council of Fellows for the American Council on Education; recently joined the board of the William Garrison Festival and Piano Competition in Baltimore.
Elder at Faith Presbyterian Church in Baltimore.