President

We are pleased to announce the completion of our search for the President of the University of Lynchburg. From a competitive, national pool, Dr. Sally Selden has been selected for this important role, effective June 30, 2026.

Selden grew up in Appomattox, Virginia, and spent 18 years at the University of Lynchburg before becoming provost at The Citadel in 2019.

At The Citadel, Selden has served as chief academic officer and leads the college’s strategic planning efforts. Her responsibilities have included managing academic programs and initiatives across the college’s five schools, serving more than 2,800 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students, and supporting more than 200 faculty.

Selden’s tenure at The Citadel was defined by record-breaking growth and a commitment to student achievement, including, since 2022, recruiting the four largest classes in its history and achieving the highest retention and four-year graduation rate among South Carolina’s comprehensive public colleges. Additionally, The Citadel was recognized by U.S. News & World Report in both 2025 and 2026 as the #1 Regional University in the Southern Region.

During her time at the University of Lynchburg, she was a respected member of the faculty and served in several leadership roles, including director of the Master of Business Administration program, department chair of Management, faculty chair, director of the Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership Studies, associate provost, and provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

Selden was also actively engaged in the Lynchburg community, serving as president of two parent-teacher organizations and on numerous nonprofit boards. In 2019, she was awarded the Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Selden holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and a PhD from the University of Georgia.

Dr. Selden will succeed Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar, who will retire in June 2026. Dr. Morrison-Shetlar has served as President since August 2020 and led the university through a period of unprecedented change, improving UL’s financial strength, including the launch of a $40 million comprehensive campaign and advancing academic initiatives designed to position the institution for long-term success.

Read the full press release here.

Natalie Leonhard and Elizabeth Weithman led this search with Afi Tettey-Fio and Kendra Moleé.