Trinity University in San Antonio Names 20th President

Vanderbilt’s Vanessa Beasley will lead the recently reclassified national liberal arts university

San Antonio, TX, May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trinity University (San Antonio) is proud to announce the confirmation of Vanessa Beasley, Ph.D., as the 20th president in the school’s 153-year history. Guided by the University’s student-centered mission and vision, Beasley stands ready to lead one of the nation’s top liberal arts universities.

“Dr. Beasley is an outstanding leader with strong values who will guide Trinity in

its quest to become a nationally recognized liberal arts university,” says Melody Meyer, Trinity Board of Trustees chair and Trinity alumna. “She has deep experience in academic excellence and is exceptional at building relationships on and off campus.” 

Beasley, Trinity’s first female president, is excited to lead a campus located in the nation’s 7th largest city, where students learn from and participate in a diverse, multicultural urban environment. 

“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,” says Beasley. “It is this energy that has Trinity poised to be recognized as one of the most important liberal arts universities in the country.”

Beasley comes to Trinity University from Vanderbilt University, where she served as vice provost for academic affairs, dean of residential faculty, and an associate professor of communication studies. Beasley’s academic expertise includes the rhetoric of American presidents, political rhetoric on immigration, and media and politics. She earned a bachelor of arts in speech communication and theatre arts from Vanderbilt, and a Ph.D. in speech communication from the University of Texas at Austin.

Beasley’s predecessor, Danny Anderson, served with distinction as Trinity’s 19th president, setting the University on a course to becoming a nationally recognized school. Anderson’s last day was May 31. Megan Mustain, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will act as interim University president until Beasley joins the campus before the start of Fall 2022 classes.

The search for a new president was conducted by a committee selected by the Board of Trustees and included individuals from the Board, faculty, administration, students, and alumni. 

Earlier this year, Trinity University was reclassified by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education as a National Liberal Arts institution, better reflecting the University’s mission and strengths. With this reclassification, Trinity University is now in the National Liberal Arts category in the U.S. News & World Report (US NEWS); the University was previously ranked No. 1 in the West for 29 of the last 30 years.