A Minnesota native, former women’s basketball coach and long-time higher education official has been named Simpson College’s interim president.

The Simpson College board of trustees has appointed Susan D. Stuebner to the interim role. Simpson board chair Terry Handley has served as acting president since the death of former President Jay Byers on April 17. With this announcement, Handley will return to his role as chair of the school’s board of trustees.

Stuebner, whose first official day will be July 28, most recently served as president and professor of Business and Social Sciences at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., for eight years. She concluded her time at Colby-Sawyer as an adviser to Interim President Laura Sykes during the 2024-25 academic year.

Stuebner’s contract with Simpson is for the 2025-2026 academic year, with the possibility of becoming the president on a full-time, permanent basis.

Previously, Stuebner served as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. She also spent 10 years at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., where she provided leadership in several senior administrative roles — culminating with her appointment as vice president for administration and planning. Her early career included roles as head women’s basketball coach at Albright College in Reading, Pa., as well as assistant women’s basketball coach at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.

Stuebner earned her Master of Education and Doctor of Education degrees from Harvard University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dartmouth College. In addition to authoring several publications on strategic planning, financial management and teaching, she also spent five years as a teaching fellow at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to have someone of Dr. Stuebner’s caliber leading Simpson College at this pivotal moment in our history,” Terry Lillis, acting chair of Simpson’s board of trustees, stated in a press release. “Her distinguished leadership as a lifelong champion for liberal arts education will be a tremendous asset as we continue our pursuit of transformative initiatives.”

Stuebner commented on her appointment, as well:

“I am truly honored to be joining the Simpson community,” Stuebner stated. “This is a special place with an inspiring history of distinctive excellence in preparing students to make a profound impact in their professions and the communities they serve. The headwinds remain fierce in higher education, but Simpson is clearly poised for a promising future. I look forward to working closely with our outstanding faculty and staff to maximize the great opportunities ahead of us.”

Handley said the college is in good hands following the loss of Byers.

“This has been an extraordinarily difficult time for Simpson College,” Handley stated. “But the collective strength and resiliency demonstrated by our community has been nothing short of remarkable. We are once again in good hands with the coming leadership of Interim President Stuebner.”