About

Eileen B. Wilson-Oyelaran, PhD, president emerita of Kalamazoo College, led the institution for eleven years prior to her retirement in 2016. She previously served as vice president and dean of the college at Salem College (North Carolina) and held teaching and high level administrative positions at Winston-Salem State University, North Carolina Wesleyan College, and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. During her tenure at Kalamazoo, in addition to leading a highly successful comprehensive campaign, Wilson-Oyelaran provided leadership as the institution heightened trustee and alumni engagement, completed new construction and campus renovations, revised the curriculum, and made considerable strides toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive campus. Dr. Wilson-Oyelaran is the recipient of numerous honors and awards for her work in higher education, including two honorary doctorates, the Gender Equity Architect Award from the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, the Star Award from the Posse Foundation, and an American Council of Education Fellowship.

She is the author of the AGB Board of Directors’ Statement on Justice, Equity, and Inclusion and co-authored the volume The New College President with Terrence MacTaggart.

Professional Credentials

Wilson-Oyelaran earned her BA from Pomona College and her MA and PhD from the Claremont Graduate University. She currently serves on the advisory board of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and the board of trustees of the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A). She is trustee emerita of Pomona College and the Bronson Healthcare Group, as well as past chair of the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) Council of Presidents and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).