Marietta College announced Monday that Susan Stuebner, shown speaking at a May welcome ceremony for her on the college campus, will no longer be the 21st president of MC due to an unforeseen change in her personal circumstances. (File photo)

Marietta College announced Monday that the woman who was supposed to start as the school’s new president in July will not be taking the position.

According to an MC media release, Susan D. Stuebner, who was set to take the reins of the school on July 15 as its 21st president, will no longer be joining MC due to “an unforeseen change in personal considerations.”

MC announced April 29 that Stuebner would be the next president following an eight-month national search that included more than 100 candidates and an official welcome ceremony was held for Stuebner on MC’s campus May 15, where she was introduced as the new president to students, faculty, staff and others.

According to MC Vice President of Communication and Brand Management Tom Perry, MC Board of Trustees Chair Mary Korn stated in a communication to the MC Community “Though these changes in our plans are unexpected, our community is strong and resourceful. We are Pioneers and we will continue to shape the future, together.”

Stuebner was in her eighth year as president of Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire when she was named as MC’s next president.

“I am grateful to the trustees of Marietta for offering me the presidency,” Stuebner said in the release. “The college is an institution that has transformed students’ lives for nearly two centuries. I am certain they will continue to make a profound difference in (the) lives of students for many years to come.”

The release said the MC Board of Trustees invited Interim President Margaret L. Drugovich – who has served in the role since July 2023 – to continue to lead the college through the remainder of 2024 and she accepted.

“It has been and continues to be, an honor to lead Marietta,” Drugovich said in the release. “I look forward to my continued work with the board, our colleagues and Marietta’s students.”

The MC community is appreciative of Drugovich’s work as interim president, according to the release.

“The entire Marietta College community is grateful for Dr. Drugovich’s exceptional leadership and we look forward to having her continue as the college’s president through the fall term,” Korn said in the release.

MC has not shared its plans for a future president yet.

“We will provide more information on the college’s long-term leadership plan in the coming weeks,” Korn said in the release.

When asked Monday for more specific information about how the next president will be chosen, Perry said the Board of Trustees has been focused on addressing the most immediate question, which is leadership starting July 15, and that will be Drugovich.

“We are very pleased that Dr. Drugovich has accepted the Board’s invitation to extend her tenure as Interim President,” Perry said by email. “This provides continuity of strong leadership that is so important to the College.”

Perry echoed the press release about the search for a new president, saying the Board of Trustees will make a decision about the timeline for a new presidential search in the coming months.

When asked if the Board of Trustees would consider hiring one of the other candidates they already interviewed during the previous search process, Perry said, “The selection of a President is a long and thoughtful process. A search committee vetted many candidates for this role and provided the Board with a group of candidates who the Committee deemed to be well qualified. In the end, the Board makes the final decision about who will be President. They have now made the decision to invite Dr. Drugovich to remain through December.”

It is not clear where Stuebner will now work, as Colby-Sawyer College announced in May that its Academic VP and Dean of Faculty Laura A. Sykes will be its interim president for the 2024-2025 academic year, according to the school’s website.

Requests for further comment by Stuebner have not been returned.