The 20th president of Trinity University was announced via video address on Tuesday, May 31. Vanessa Beasley will be stepping in to replace Danny Anderson, former university president, who departed this May. Until the Fall 2022 semester begins, provost and vice president of academic affairs Meghan Mustain will act as interim president.

Formerly the ​​vice provost for academic affairs, dean of residential faculty and an associate professor of communication studies at Vanderbilt University, Beasley is Trinity’s first woman president. The announcement comes after a long search process, taking into consideration community feedback and Trinity’s goal of becoming a nationally recognized liberal arts university.

“What compelled me to join Trinity is its steadfast commitment to a well-rounded education. One filled with new ideas, interdisciplinary curiosity and a cultivated sense of empathy and community,” Beasley said in her video message to the Trinity community. “It is this energy that has Trinity poised to be recognized as one of the most important liberal arts universities in the country.”