Post updated at 5:06 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11:
Lynne Murray, president of Baker University for the last decade, will step down from her position effective Dec. 31, the university announced Tuesday.
She’s been announced as the next president of McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.
Baker’s board of trustees will begin a national search for the next president immediately.
Murray will work alongside the board of trustees to “ensure a smooth transition of leadership while the University launches a search for a new president,” according to a news release from the university.
Trustee John Thomson, Class of 1995 alum and founder and CEO of PayIt, a digital government and payment platform, will lead the search committee, according to the release.
“Dr. Murray has been an extraordinary leader during her tenure, positioning Baker for continued success,” Brenda Tuller Stasiulis, chair of Baker’s board of trustees, said in the release. “We are profoundly grateful for her decade of service, which has left an indelible impact on the University. We look forward to finding a leader who will build upon this legacy and lead Baker into its next chapter of growth.”
The search committee will share updates at milestones in the transition, according to the release.
“Under Dr. Murray’s leadership, Baker University has experienced significant growth and success,” the release states. “Among her most notable accomplishments is the Forever Orange campaign, which substantially strengthened Baker’s endowment and provided a solid foundation for future progress. Dr. Murray’s guidance during the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, when the University adapted swiftly to ensure student success while safeguarding the health and well-being of its community.”
Murray is the 29th president of Baker, which is a private university founded in 1858.
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