Meet President Elizabeth MacLeod Walls

Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls was named the fifteenth President of William Jewell College in 2016. She previously served in numerous academic and senior leadership roles at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Bryan College of Health Sciences. Dr. MacLeod Walls is the author of numerous refereed books and articles, and earned her Ph.D. in English Literature and Classical Rhetoric (highest distinction) from TCU and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History (Phi Beta Kappa) at Hiram College. She also is an alumna of the Harvard New Presidents Program, the Harvard Management and Leadership in Education Program, ACE Women’s Leadership Program and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Programs. She currently serves on the Board of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and is active in higher education leadership and advocacy.

Dr. MacLeod Walls nurtures a strong belief in higher education as a component of civic vitality, which is why she serves on the Boards of the Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce, the Liberty Economic Development Council, the KC Rising Steering Committee, and the Keystone Community Corporation overseeing Kansas City’s burgeoning Innovation Hub. Dr. MacLeod Walls is married to Rev. Dr. Craig MacLeod Walls and is the proud mother of two sons, Alec and John.