‘Now is the time to supercharge our work’: Struggling Mass. college names new president
Jennifer Chrisler was named president of Hampshire College, following her three-month stint as interim leader after the previous president's departure in June, according to a Thursday announcement.
"I believe in Hampshire's promise, and I believe in its people," said Chrisler. "The College's creation required a radical rethinking of how to approach the liberal arts, and we've been pushing higher education forward ever since. Hampshire's purpose is reinvention, which is a vital capacity in the current moment. Now is the time to supercharge our work to envision a 21st-century education that prioritizes student agency, adaptability and real-world impact. The key to all of this is to lay the groundwork for transformative growth with the Hampshire community, while ensuring Hampshire's operational health."
The college's former president, Ed Wingenbach, stepped down after six years in office in June.
Prior to resigning from the position, he said the institution was rebounding after the college was facing closure due to financial difficulties in 2019.
While still open, the college, based in Amherst, has been in and out of financial hot water , temporarily suspending staff retirement contributions and having senior leadership take a year-long pay cut to make up for low enrollment numbers and FAFSA delays in 2024.
Chrisler has worked in private and public education, electoral politics and national public policy advocacy for over 30 years. She joined Hampshire in 2019 when the college was considering closing.
Working as the chief advancement officer, vice president of institutional support and interim president, she has focused on the college's revenue and external presence. She secured more than $52 million in unrestricted operating support for a Change in the Making campaign — including some of the largest gifts received by the college. She also helped the institution with its rebranding.
She has also worked as an LGBTQIA+ advocate and a non-profit executive. Prior to Hampshire, she was also the vice chancellor for advancement at UMass Dartmouth and the vice president of alumnae relations at Smith College.
She is a Smith College alumna and the mother of three sons.
"Jennifer Chrisler's exemplary leadership has already proven essential for the College, with a combination of vision and resilience that makes her a perfect fit for us as an experimenting institution," said Jose Fuentes, chair of Hampshire's board. "In her, we have a steady and savvy financial hand, as well as a strategist who can see the macro trends in higher education and forge an innovative future for both Hampshire and the liberal arts."
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