BRISTOL, Va. — An administrator with more than 30 years of experience in higher education will become the next president of Virginia Intermont College, trustees of the Virginia Baptist-affiliated school announced July 21.
E. Clorisa Phillips, 54, currently associate provost for institutional effectiveness at the University of Virginia, was unanimously elected by Intermont’s trustees July 20 as the college’s 17th president. Phillips, who also will teach as professor of public service and leadership, will assume her new position Aug. 1.
Clorisa Phillips is introduced as president of Virginia Intermont College by board of trustees vice chair Taylor Reveley. (Photo by Taylor Roberts)
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Phillips succeeds Michael J. Puglisi, who unexpectedly resigned last January after five years as president.
“We feel very fortunate to have someone with her academic leadership and experience to lead Virginia Intermont into the 21st century,” said Wayne Kennedy, chair of Intermont’s trustees. “She is well prepared to guide our institution as it positions itself for dynamic improvement and innovation. She will also be an energetic presence in the Bristol community.”
“VI is a wonderful school,” Phillips said. “It has an important history, and it has a present full of promise. There is an amazing spirit and sense of family among the students, faculty and staff and I am delighted to be part of the VI community. I look forward to leading Virginia Intermont College into the exciting future it deserves.”
Phillips has held a variety of administrative roles in her more than 30-year career at UVA, including assignments in admissions, human resources and the president’s office. Since 2002, working closely with the executive vice president and provost, she has coordinated the design, procurement and administration of benefits plans and services for faculty and staff members; development activities and capital projects in the arts; and international academic projects.
She also has overseen UVA’s accreditation process by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). This year, she began a three-year term as trustee of the SACS commission on colleges.
Phillips has held a special assignment as assistant to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s director of personnel and training, and also served on the state’s Health Insurance Advisory Committee and on the national advisory council of TIAA-CREF, a financial services organization for about 15,000 academic, research, medical, cultural and non-profit institutions.
UVA president John T. Casteen III, who gave Phillips her first job in 1978, praised Intermont’s selection.
“Her broad experience on the inside of the most important functions of higher education, knowledge of every aspect of leadership in a dynamic institution, personal readiness to take on the challenges of a presidency, intelligence and passion for the work itself make her an uncommonly good fit for Virginia Intermont,” Casteen said.
Phillips holds a bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., and master’s and doctor’s degrees in education from UVA.
Her husband is on UVA’s faculty and their daughter is a second-year student at the Charlottesville, Va., school.
Puglisi stepped down as Intermont’s president in January at trustees’ request. His departure coincided with a reduction in the school’s faculty and staff, though administrators and trustees said Puglisi’s resignation was unrelated to the personnel reductions, which were part of a cost-saving plan.
During his five-year tenure, Puglisi was credited with navigating Intermont through severe financial challenges that threatened to close the school almost four years ago.
Established in 1884, Virginia Intermont enrolls about 550 students. The school is noted for its equestrian program, which regular wins national competitions.
Robert Dilday is managing editor of the Religious Herald.