Goshen College President Rebecca Stoltzfus reappointed for a third term

The Goshen College Board of Directors has unanimously reappointed President Rebecca Stoltzfus to a third term of five years, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Stoltzfus, a 1983 Goshen College alumna and the institution’s 18th president, began her service in 2017 and was reappointed in 2021.

“The challenges in higher education today are among the most significant ever encountered by private, faith-based, liberal arts colleges,” said Joy Sutter, the chair of the Goshen College Board of Directors and a 1981 graduate from Harleysville, Pennsylvania. “In a moment such as this, nothing is more important than leadership — and we have been very fortunate to have Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus successfully leading Goshen College over the last eight years. The Board is very pleased with her deep connection with students, inspirational leadership, exceptional performance and vision for the future of our beloved institution.”

Sutter added, “Throughout her tenure, Dr. Stoltzfus has championed the values of Anabaptist-Mennonite higher education, supported academic excellence, led the implementation of a successful strategic plan and has been vital in our ambitious Connected Cause campaign. Her calm, wise and steady leadership makes her undoubtedly the right choice to continue to lead Goshen College during this pivotal time in higher education.”

During the past five years, Goshen College has:

• Implemented the Strategic Plan 2021–2026, advancing vibrant academic innovation, community engagement and faith-based leadership.
• Achieved record-breaking fundraising success through the Connected Cause campaign, supporting scholarships, capital projects and the GC Fund.
• Completed the renovation of Westlawn Hall, home to the new Center for Nursing and Public Health, a state-of-the-art facility that underscores the college’s leadership in healthcare education.
• Invested in visual branding, landscaping and facilities renewal across campus.
• Earned federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2023 from the U.S. Department of Education after an almost 20-year journey toward this designation.
• Collaboratively developed a new framework for campus faith formation called “Oriented to Love.”
• Strengthened local and global partnerships that support our mission to integrate academic excellence with real-world experiences and active love for God and neighbor.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to continue serving Goshen College,” said President Stoltzfus. “This community’s commitment to thoughtful faith, courageous inquiry and compassionate service continues to inspire me every day. As we look ahead, my focus will be on deepening our mission—preparing students to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world—and ensuring that a Goshen education remains both transformative and accessible.”

Looking toward her third term, Stoltzfus plans to build on the college’s strengths in experiential learning, global engagement and innovation, while navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education with creativity and conviction.

“Dr. Stoltzfus’ knowledge, skills, abilities and compassion make her the ideal president for Goshen College in the years ahead,” said Sutter. “We are grateful to her for graciously embracing another term to take on this important leadership role.”

Stoltzfus received her master’s and doctoral degrees in human nutrition from Cornell University (Ithaca, New York). Before becoming president, she taught human nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Baltimore, Maryland), and then joined the Cornell University faculty in 2002 as professor of human nutrition and later served as vice provost for undergraduate education.

She and her husband, Kevin Miller ’85, live in Goshen and are active members of College Mennonite Church. They are the parents of two young adults, Lydia Miller ’18 and Gabe Miller ’20.