About M. Lee Pelton

Dr. M. Lee Pelton was appointed Willamette University's 22nd president July 1998. Under his leadership, the University has increased its academic profile, successfully employing strategies to attract the best faculty and the brightest students from the state, the nation and the world.

During President Pelton's tenure, College of Liberal Arts applications have increased almost 300 percent - an average increase of 30 percent each year. This fall Willamette University made history with its enrollment numbers. Applications for admission to the College of Liberal Arts totaled more than 4,200, a 35 percent increase over last year: both the percentage increase and the total number set new records for Willamette.

The selectivity among our applications is the best the University has ever seen. Multicultural applications increased over last year and the geographic diversity is strong with our students coming from 48 states and 19 countries. All this was accomplished without sacrificing the academic credentials of admitted students who boasted a 3.83 median GPA.

Some of the exciting advancements to occur under President Pelton's direction include:

Launching a six-year program to expand College of Liberal Arts faculty by 25 percent to improve the student-faculty ratio and reduce teaching loads;

Planning and funding Ford Hall. In 2008, Willamette broke ground on a 42,000 square-foot academic building which will house the departments of mathematics, computer science and rhetoric and media studies. The building, scheduled to open next fall, will also house the latest technology for Willamette's digital arts program, including visual arts, digital music and film studies;

Dedicating the College of Law Carnegie Building, which houses the new Oregon Civic Justice Center, in the fall of 2008;

Planning and funding a major renovation of Kresge Theatre, scheduled to be completed in 2010;

Establishing and funding four new academic centers of excellence. In 2007, Dr. Pelton announced the establishment of the Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, the Center for Asian Studies, the Center for the Study of Democracy, Religion, and Law, and the Center for Sustainable Communities. Rare among small independent liberal arts university, these centers of academic excellence serve to strengthen opportunities for faculty and student development, research and scholarship in several different disciplines;

Expanding the Atkinson Graduate School's professional business management program to Portland;

Opening Kaneko Commons, the first of four undergraduate residential commons. In 1999, Dr. Pelton and the Board of Trustees approved a plan to enhance the undergraduate experience at Willamette through the creation and development of residential commons that foster programming and opportunities for intellectual discourse beyond the classroom setting. In the fall of 2006, Kaneko Commons opened its doors to 350 students. Kaneko Commons is the first step in the University's plan to completely redesign the living-learning experience for Willamette undergraduates through the creation of a comprehensive residential commons program.

In 2002, President Pelton launched The Campaign for Willamette, a $125 million fundraising effort. To date, he has raised $122 million toward that goal.

Under Dr. Pelton’s leadership, Willamette continues to see a bright future in which teaching, learning and research form the core values of the University.

Dr. Pelton also seeks to enhance Willamette's contributions to the greater Salem community. He has partnered with other community leaders and employers to find ways to foster economic growth and infuse energy and vitality in Salem's downtown business core, such as the creation of a downtown arts and cultural district. Additionally, developing opportunities for civic engagement and community service on behalf of both students and staff at Willamette continues to be a high priority, with more than 52,000 hours of service provided by students to the Salem community each year. (See www.willamette.edu/about/community/partnership/.)

Dr. Pelton is a recognized leader in higher education and has lectured and written extensively on the topic. He has served as a member of several leading national educational boards and committees, including the Harvard University Board of Overseers (former vice chair), American Council on Education (chair), American Association of Higher Education, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Oregon Independent Colleges Association (chair), Oregon Symphony Association, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon World Affairs Council, Oregon Humanities Council and the Oregon 529 Plan.

President Pelton holds a doctorate from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Wichita State University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1974. His area of academic focus is in 19th century British prose and poetry.

He served as dean of the college at Colgate University (1988-91) and Dartmouth College (1991-98). At Harvard he taught in the English Department and was the dean of one of Harvard’s 13 undergraduate colleges.

(Updated 10/31/08)