President

Stacey Robertson became the 11th president of Widener University in July 2022 and has led the institution through a period of remarkable transformation and growth. She has provided strategic clarity and rallied the university community around four key pillars: recruitment, student success, belonging, and financial stewardship. This has led to record-setting undergraduate enrollment, including the three largest incoming classes in Widener’s history, as well as the most diverse first-year class in fall 2025. Under her leadership, the university has strengthened its financial position and secured Widener’s largest-ever philanthropic gift—a $10 million donation that named the Jack & Nancy Dwyer School of Nursing.

Her passionate commitment to fostering a culture of belonging is evident in her warm, engaging manner and her daily embodiment of the ethos “We’re All Widener.” During her tenure, Widener has twice been recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” affirming the positive impact of her leadership.

Before joining Widener, Robertson held senior academic leadership roles at SUNY Geneseo, Central Washington University, and Bradley University. A distinguished historian and author of four books, she has also co-edited an academic series and co-directed the national nonprofit Historians Against Slavery. In recognition of her visionary leadership, she was named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs in fall 2024.

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