Rust College, a historically Black liberal arts college founded in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, seeks a visionary, dynamic, and transformative leader to serve as its next President. The President will provide strategic leadership to advance the College’s mission of academic excellence, student success, and community engagement in one of the oldest historically Black colleges in the United States. The next Rust College President will be a visionary leader who can stabilize finances, boost enrollment, modernize the campus, and expand the College’s influence. While challenges exist, Rust College’s legacy, strong community, and commitment to HBCU excellence provide an opportunity for transformative leadership.
A United Methodist-affiliated institution, Rust maintains a strong tradition of faith-based education and continues to emphasize service, integrity, and leadership. With a small student body, Rust offers a personalized educational experience and a strong sense of community. Having one of the lowest tuition rates among private HBCUs, Rust makes higher education more accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds and has a history of providing opportunities to help them thrive. Many students, faculty, and alumni describe the campus as a family-oriented environment that fosters strong relationships and support networks. With an intimate student-to-faculty ratio, Rust offers personalized attention and mentoring opportunities. The College emphasizes critical thinking, leadership development, and community service. Rust has been a pillar in the fight for racial equality and educational access for over 150 years and has produced influential leaders in ministry, education, law, and public service, including Ida B. Wells, the pioneering journalist and civil rights activist. Rust College is distinctive for its deep historical roots, commitment to academic excellence, and dedication to student success. Rust College emphasizes education as a tool for social mobility and empowerment and cultivates a spirit of leadership, encouraging students to be active in student government, organizations, and community initiatives.
With an operating budget of $17 million and an endowment of $52 million, Rust College awards Associate and Baccalaureate degrees through five divisions. Current enrollment is 468 students, with a goal to increase enrollment to 650 students. The College employs 47 faculty members and a staff of 150 who care deeply about the future of the students they serve and their success. Located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the College occupies approximately 126 acres and features a blend of historic and modern buildings. Just an hour from Memphis, Tennessee, Holly Springs blends small-town hospitality with easy access to urban opportunities.
The successful candidate will bring a keen sense of the future of higher education and a deep understanding of the challenges small, rural, tuition-dependent HBCUs face. The President will be an inspiring team builder, powerful communicator and fundraiser, collaborative problem-solver, champion of inclusion, and sound fiscal manager. Candidates should offer a distinguished record of senior leadership experience and professional achievement in higher education or an equivalent level of responsibility in a business, government, or nonprofit enterprise. A sophisticated sense of the uniqueness of HBCUs and the ability to articulate their enduring value are essential. A terminal degree is strongly preferred but not required.
Screening will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made but for fullest consideration, applications should be received by April 11, 2025. Completed applications should include a CV and a cover letter which addresses how the candidate’s experience and qualifications have prepared them for this role. Applications should be submitted, in confidence, using DSG’s candidate portal. Please send all nominations or inquiries via email to [email protected].
Euris E. Belle and Christopher D. Lee, PhD, Managing Directors
Christine Falcone Senior Associate
DSG Global | Education Practice
This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Compensation is expected to be up to $250,000, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package, including a presidential home adjacent to the campus. The selected candidate may be required to submit to a background investigation.
Rust College Is An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer