Bethany College President Leaving

The President of Bethany College in Lindsborg is leaving.

According to the school, President Dr. Edward F. Leonard III has announced he will be leaving this summer to become the 14th president at Birmingham-Southern College, a liberal arts college located in Birmingham, Alabama affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

President Leonard is completing his eighth year at Bethany College. When he took over at Bethany College in 2007, enrollment was at 537 students. Last year, it was up to 678. Last fall’s enrollment topped out at over 700 students.

During his tenure, President Leonard designed a plan and strategy to lead the college through a number of significant accomplishments. These include a 34 percent enrollment growth since 2007, more than $25 million invested in new or updated facilities and landscaping, a new interdisciplinary general education curriculum, and the recent completion of a successful comprehensive campaign that raised $22 million, the largest in Bethany’s history.

The college’s board will meet this weekend for its regular May meeting. Discussion will include next steps in replacing President Leonard.