President Morton Announces Retirement
Ana Risano | April 1, 2022
On Wednesday, March 30, President Lynn Morton, Ph.D., announced her retirement for the end of this academic year.
In her email to the Warren Wilson College (WWC) community, Morton expressed the joy and appreciation she has towards campus.
“I’m grateful for the many productive working relationships and personal friendships that I have formed, all of which I am sure will endure into the future, as well as for this exceptional community and its positive impact on my life,” Morton wrote. “I’m also grateful to have had this opportunity to serve this amazing college. Because of these rich experiences, I have grown and changed.”
While president, Morton was involved in multiple initiatives. She helped increase undergraduate enrollment; expanded athletics to become a NCAA Division III school; introduced two free tuition scholarship programs, NC Free and Milepost One; and created a strategic plan.
Morton alluded to the progress of the college in her email.
“In the past five years, we have accomplished so much together,” Morton wrote. “Our forward momentum speaks to this community’s resilience, work ethic and courage. I know that this college can do whatever it puts its mind, heart and soul to do.”
To leave WWC was a difficult decision for Morton, but as she mentioned in her email, necessary given the loss of her husband of 42 years, Ric Morton, to cancer last June and the need to support her family while also dealing with the toll of the pandemic. She also believes the college is in a good position to hire a new president.
“We’re in a good position to attract a highly qualified, energetic, visionary leader who can take Warren Wilson to the next level of excellence,” Morton wrote. “The search process for the next president will begin this summer with a new president starting no later than the Fall semester 2023.”
Lach Zemp, chair of the Board of Trustees, spoke of Morton’s leadership during her presidency.
“During her five years of strategic and focused leadership, Warren Wilson College has not only weathered a host of challenges facing colleges and universities across the country, but has experienced growth in enrollment and strengthening of its core values,” Zemp said. “Because of her hard work and achievements, Warren Wilson’s place on the landscape of higher education offers students not only an excellent education, but a place for them to instill the values of hard work and community that are much needed in the current environment. We will sorely miss her.”
The Board of Trustees has chosen Bill Christy ‘79 to serve as interim president, according to Morton. He was chair of the Board during the last presidential search in 2016-17 and has been a member of the Board for 12 years.
On becoming interim president, Christy wrote to the WWC community: “I am deeply appreciative to have the support of Board Chair Lach Zemp and the Board of Trustees. President Morton has pledged to work directly with me in this transition and also as we turn our attention to the national search for the next president. I look forward to working with the Board and the entire Warren Wilson community in a collaborative effort to further the mission of the College by focusing on our efforts to ensure student success and to prepare the way for the next chapter in our collective journey.”