DR. STEFANIE D. NILES NAMED THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT OF COTTEY COLLEGE

The Cottey College Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Cottey’s thirteenth president, Dr. Stefanie D. Niles.

Dr. Niles comes to Cottey from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she serves as the Vice President for Enrollment and Communications, a position she has held since 2018. Prior to that, she worked at Dickinson College, Hollins University, Bryn Athyn College, DePauw University, and the University of Tennessee. Dr. Niles also brings leadership experience from serving on many boards and associations across higher education throughout her career; most notably serving as the president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in 2018-2019 and her selection into the Fulbright International Education Administrators Program in 2017.

Dr. Niles earned a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Education from Indiana University, and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

“Cottey is incredibly fortunate to find a candidate like Dr. Niles,” said Kathryn Bayne, Chair of the Cottey College Board of Trustees. “She has extensive experience in a variety of increasingly responsible positions in higher education. Her work in enrollment and communication will be an asset to the College as it continues to move forward. We owe our thanks to the Presidential Search Committee and Chair Grace Chalker for their excellent work.”

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to become the next president of Cottey College,” said Dr. Niles. “I am inspired by Cottey’s mission to educate women to be contributing members of a global society, particularly as I have both benefited personally from a single-gender educational experience, and I have worked at a women’s college. The unique experience that Cottey offers its students is distinctive and important, and I’m eager to champion Cottey and be a vocal and impassioned advocate for the many opportunities offered to the women it serves.”

“On behalf of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and our members throughout the United States and Canada, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Stefanie D. Niles as the 13th President of Cottey College,” said Patricia L. Brolin-Ribi, President of International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. “Dr. Niles, through her vision and values, will provide excellent leadership for the future of the college. We are very fortunate to have her join us at this time in Cottey’s history.”

“I am so pleased to know Cottey College will be in good hands following my retirement,” said Dr. Jann Weitzel. “With the help of the excellent leadership team already in place on campus, I know Dr. Niles and Cottey will find incredible success.”

Dr. Niles will be joined in Nevada by her husband Chris. They have two college-aged children, Parker and Alexa. Dr. Niles’ first day on campus will be July 1, 2022.

Cottey College is an independent, liberal arts and science college for women located in Nevada, Missouri. Its residential student capacity of 350 typically represents 40 states and 20 countries. Cottey is owned by the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international women’s organization of over 210,000 members, making Cottey the only nonsectarian college in the United States owned and supported by women for women.