Best Wishes, Betsy, See You Soon

JENNIFER McMANAMAY
Staff writer

Retiring president Betsy Muhlenfeld receives a gift from college relations at a party hosted in her honor. Photo by Brenda Fitts.


Pausing for a brief moment on moving day. Photo by Sheila Alexander.

The campus community bids thanks and so long but not goodbye to Elisabeth “Betsy” Showalter Muhlenfeld, who retired in June after 13 years as Sweet Briar’s ninth president.

Late in the morning of June 25, Muhlenfeld was directing the chaos that is moving day. Dodging movers, she paused long enough to take a phone call and reflect on her leaving.

The closer she and her husband, Laurin Wollan, got to their final night at Sweet Briar House, she said, “The more I realized how much I’m going to miss the place and especially the people.”

Of course, no one has seen the last of her. She anticipates that she will keep “several fingers on the pulse of Sweet Briar” from Richmond, where they bought a house and will be near family.

“I plan to be very engaged with alumnae in Richmond and will continue to chair the Tusculum Advisory Board here on campus,” Muhlenfeld said. “And I suspect the Sweet Briar news page will continue to be my default [home page] for years to come.”

She also will be back for the dedication of the new fitness center and inauguration of Sweet Briar’s 10th president, Jo Ellen Parker, which will occur during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 26.

More than a year ago, Muhlenfeld announced her intention to retire by the end of June 2009. She began serving at Sweet Briar in August 1996.

Among the College’s initiatives during her tenure are the founding of the Tusculum Institute for the preservation of historic resources; several new construction and renovation projects to expand facilities; and additions to the curriculum including master’s programs in teaching and education, an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, certificates in equine studies and leadership, and several new undergraduate majors, including engineering.

Muhlenfeld also presided during a critical period in which Sweet Briar reaffirmed its commitment to remaining a women’s college.

Thank you, President Muhlenfeld, for your service and best wishes in your next endeavors.