With the unveiling of Stetson University’s FORWARD TOGETHER Strategic Priorities Framework, 2023-2030, the university’s Board of Trustees asked Stetson  President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, to extend his contract through 2030 — and he has enthusiastically agreed. 

“As I stated recently to our full board and to our senior staff, part of our strategic priorities is to have a leader like Chris, and to secure him as our president until 2030, which aligns perfectly with our FORWARD TOGETHER vision,” said Steven Alexander, chair of Stetson’s Board of Trustees. “With Chris’ deep understanding of teaching and learning, his ability to inspire our community, and his unique talents of being kind and empathetic, he is the ideal leader at this time for Stetson University. The board is in full agreement and is eager to fully support Chris and his talented senior leadership team!”

Stetson’s 10th president, Roellke arrived in July 2020, just after the COVID-19 pandemic had forced the university to move spring and summer classes online. At the time of his arrival, the state of Florida was an epicenter of the pandemic. Roellke immediately emphasized the importance of kindness, empathy and shared ownership — themes that continue to permeate the Stetson University community.  Almost four years later, Stetson, founded in 1883, looks to a bright future with the recent unveiling of its FORWARD TOGETHER Strategic Priorities Framework, 2023-2030. 

Roellke’s goal is to take the university from “Florida Gem to National Treasure.” The Strategic Priorities Framework includes a host of capital projects that will enhance and modernize the academic and co-curricular environment of Stetson’s campuses.  

Alexander, chair of Stetson’s Board of Trustees, not only pointed to the stability Roellke represents to the university, but also his immediate and continuing impact. 

“Aside from Chris’ unique talents of being kind and empathetic, he is a lifetime educator, a true educator,” said Alexander, who has more than 25 years of experience working with a variety of institutions in higher education. “We have a president who actually teaches class; he’s a full professor. So, he has a great perspective of what students need. That’s been one of our main themes, that we’re putting students first. And Chris is a president who puts the students first. The biggest part of our strategic priorities is having him at the helm with those characteristics.”

Previously, Roellke was the Dean of the College and Professor of Education at Vassar College, and upon his departure was named Dean of the College Emeritus. He is widely regarded as an exceptionally effective and collaborative higher education leader who is past-president for the Association of Education Finance and Policy, as well as a 2014 Fulbright Scholar, and the founder of Vassar College’s Urban Education Initiative.

Key Accomplishments

As 2021 began, despite the lingering pandemic, Stetson forged ahead with major projects, renovating the Sage Hall Science Center and adding a new suite of labs in time for the Fall 2021 semester. Construction began on the 40,000-square-foot Cici & Hyatt Brown Hall for Health & Innovation to create a new combined science complex. In addition, the university announced a number of significant grants and gifts, greatly expanding opportunities for students and, in effect, transforming the campus for generations to come. 

Also in 2021, Roellke began making what is perhaps his greatest contribution to Stetson — building trust with the faculty. 

“I’m thrilled that President Roellke has decided to stay at Stetson University through 2030,” commented Joshua Rust, PhD, professor of Philosophy and chair of Stetson’s Faculty Senate. “In a time where the average tenure of university presidents has decreased to about six years, President Roellke’s decision adds needed and welcome continuity to this institution. Most importantly, his decision to stay through 2030 exactly corresponds to the timetable of our Strategic Priorities Framework, which is centered around the university’s traditional strengths of academic excellence. Sociologist Max Weber talks about the importance of the ‘ethics of responsibility’ in leadership. In agreeing to see these strategic priorities through, President Roellke shows us that he believes that the ambitious goals outlined in the Framework are achievable — he’s showing us, in other words, that we are in fact moving forward together.”

Associate Professor Melinda Hall, PhD, Interim Associate Dean, agreed. “As past Senate chair and as a faculty member, it has been tremendous to work with Dr. Roellke. He listens carefully and takes faculty seriously, including our areas of expertise and our contributions to the university. He does this in a broad and equitable way, taking into consideration our multiple roles and the ways in which we work together as employees with staff across the university. I appreciate his positivity, the time he took to build relationships with the University Faculty Senate at a crucial time, and his energy.”

Among the highlights in 2022, Stetson was nationally recognized for excellence. That spring, the Digital Arts Program — for the first time — was recognized as being among the best for game design by The Princeton Review. In September, the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings placed Stetson higher in the Top 5 of Best Regional Universities (South). A month later, Roellke led the charge during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on the Cici & Hyatt Brown Hall for Health & Innovation. Also, four Ukrainian students were welcomed to campus, with tuition paid through university fundraising, along with a Ukrainian professor. And Stetson’s new Center for Public Opinion Research was launched with national aspirations. 

Last year, the Cici & Hyatt Brown Hall for Health & Innovation officially opened in time for the spring semester. Meanwhile, Stetson again ranked in the Top 5 for Best Regional Universities (South) and moved up in three other categories. Also, Stetson’s College of Law was ranked the No. 1 in the country for Trial Advocacy and the No. 3 destination for Legal Writing. With those achievements serving as the backdrop, Stetson shattered its fundraising record for a second consecutive year during the 2023 fiscal year, with a total of $65 million. Also, led by Roellke, its head cheerleader, Stetson robustly celebrated its 140th anniversary. 

The fundraising is especially notable. Since Roellke arrived less than four years ago, the total has exceeded $191 million raised. 

As for 2024, the newly announced FORWARD TOGETHER Strategic Priorities Framework, 2023-2030, outlines five core themes: Experiential, Contemporary & Integrative Learning; Student-Centered Success & Wellness; People, Culture & Inclusive Excellence; Lifelong Relationships & Connections; and Comprehensive Sustainability. 

“Serving as Stetson’s 10th president has been the greatest honor and privilege of my professional life, and I am eager to continue to lead our collective efforts in making our university the very best it can be,” Roellke said. “For me, it is always about our incredible students and how we equip them with the skills and dispositions required to be successful in an increasingly complex world. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such fine faculty and staff and with dedicated and highly supportive alumni and board members. Stetson’s journey has been a remarkable one for over 140 years, and our beloved university is well positioned to reach new heights moving FORWARD TOGETHER.”

-Michael Candelaria