Converse College President Betsy Fleming to step down

Converse College President Betsy Fleming announced Tuesday that this academic year will be her final year at the school.

Fleming, the school’s ninth president, has been at Converse for 11 years. Fleming shared the news with faculty, staff and students during a series of campuswide meetings Tuesday.

“This decision comes only after much reflection and with the full knowledge that with your engagement and support, Converse has accomplished more than I could ever imagined possible back in 2005, and certainly more than most colleges would ever dare to dream,” Fleming said in a statement.

“On a personal level, I truly love my work at Converse and most particularly the incredible connections that I have developed with so many of you – faculty and staff, students and alumni, trustees and donors, community partners, friends and colleagues.”

Ben Wall, chairman of the college’s board of trustees, announced that a search committee for Converse’s 10th president will be led by Spartanburg business leader and Converse Trustee Emeritus Bill Barnet.

The identification of a search firm, search committee members and a timeline will be finalized in the coming weeks.

“We still have exciting work to accomplish together through June 2016,” Fleming said in the statement. “With Converse’s sights set on continuing this momentum, I believe that Converse is well-poised for success as it enters the next chapter in its history.”

Converse is a private, liberal arts university in Spartanburg with a residential women’s undergraduate college, co-ed graduate, distance learning and adult education programs.

Immediately prior to her arrival at Converse, Fleming was executive director of the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.

The (Spartanburg) Herald-Journal

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 4:07 PM.