The Marietta College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kathleen Dougherty as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Marietta College on Tuesday. (Photo Provided)

MARIETTA — The Marietta College Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Kathleen Dougherty as the chief executive officer and president of Marietta College on Tuesday, making her the college’s 21st president.

The appointment to the role of president was voted on unanimously by the Marietta College Board of Trustees following her service as interim president, which started Jan. 1.

“It is an honor to lead Marietta College,” said Dougherty. “I have come to treasure this wonderful institution and this community.”

Dougherty has over two decades of experience in higher education. Prior to her position as interim president, she served as provost and dean of the faculty at MC.

“When I first arrived at Marietta, I was deeply moved by the commitment our faculty and staff demonstrate for every student on our campus,” said Dougherty.

She recently helped secure funding for the Milone Center for Academic and Career Success which is one of many improvement projects currently underway on campus. She has also worked closely with state government representatives and local businesses to launch the state-funded Center for Appalachian Innovation this fall.

“The entire Marietta College community is grateful for Dr. Dougherty’s exceptional operational leadership and strategic visibility,” said Board Chair Dr. Jim Wilson. “Her focus on the future of the college, her ability to deal with the challenges and opportunities facing the college, and her outreach to the campus community and the state’s higher-education community have been exceptional.”

During her time at Marietta, Dougherty has led and contributed to planning initiatives and educational programs which will be announced later this month.

“Dr. Dougherty understands the challenges and opportunities facing Marietta and is positioned to guide our college into the future,” said Wilson. “We all look forward to the college’s continued success under her leadership.”

From 2018-2022, Dougherty was provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Alma College. She previously served as dean of the School of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at Mount Mary University. She also served as an outside department chair at Notre Dame of Maryland University and held faculty positions at Bowie State University and George Washington University.

Dougherty has a bachelor’s in philosophy from St. Olaf College and a master’s and Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Oklahoma.

She has expertise in moral theory, specifically virtue ethics and the development of the moral self.

She served on the Council of Independent Colleges’ NetVUE Advisory Council and was invited to attend the Chief Academic Officers Innovation Community of the Gardner Institute. She also completed the Executive Leadership Academy through the American Academic Leadership Institute.

“I’m excited to continue our work together to build a strong future for Marietta College and future generations of Pioneers,” said Dougherty. “I’m grateful for the Board’s partnership and their confidence in my ability to lead Marietta forward.”