About M. Lee Pelton
Dr. M. Lee Pelton was appointed Willamette University’s 22nd president July 1998. Under his leadership, the University has increased its academic profile, successfully employing strategies to attract the best faculty and the brightest students from the state, the nation and the world.
In 1999, Dr. Pelton and the Board of Trustees approved a plan to enhance the undergraduate experience at Willamette through the creation and development of residential commons that foster programming and opportunities for intellectual discourse beyond the classroom setting. In fall 2006, Kaneko Commons opened its doors to 350 students. Kaneko Commons is the first step in the University’s plan to completely redesign the living-learning experience for Willamette undergraduates through the creation of a comprehensive residential commons program.
In 2005, President Pelton created a vision for centers of excellence. These centers, which are rare for a small independent liberal arts university, will strengthen opportunities for faculty and student development, research and scholarship in several different disciplines. In 2007, Dr. Pelton announced the establishment of four academic centers: Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, Center for Asian Studies, Center for the Study of Democracy, Religion, and Law and Center for Sustainable Communities.
President Pelton is committed to advancing Willamette University’s academic profile. Under Dr. Pelton’s leadership, the number of College of Liberal Arts faculty will increase by 20 percent over the next few years as part of an effort to reduce faculty teaching loads in order to increase capacity for faculty research and enhanced pedagogy. In 2008, Willamette will break ground on a 42,000 square-foot academic building which will house the departments of mathematics, computer science and rhetoric and media studies. The building will also house the latest technology for Willamette’s digital arts program, including visual arts, digital music and film studies.
Dr. Pelton also seeks to enhance Willamette’s contributions to the greater Salem community. He has partnered with other community leaders and employers to find ways to foster economic growth and infuse energy and vitality in Salem’s downtown business core, such as creation of a downtown arts and cultural district. Additionally, developing opportunities for civic engagement and community service on the part of both students and staff at Willamette continues to be a high priority, with more than 52,000 hours of service provided by students to the Salem community each year. (See www.willamette.edu/about/community/partnership/.)
Dr. Pelton is a recognized leader in higher education and has lectured and written extensively on the topic. He has served as a member of several leading national educational boards and committees, including the Harvard University Board of Overseers (former vice chair), American Council on Education (chair), American Association of Higher Education, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, Oregon Independent Colleges Association (chair), Oregon Symphony Association, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon World Affairs Council, Oregon Humanities Council, and Oregon 529 Plan.
President Pelton holds a doctorate from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from Wichita State University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1974. His area of academic focus is in 19th century British prose and poetry.
He served as dean of the college at Colgate University (1988–91) and Dartmouth College (1991–98). At Harvard he taught in the English Department and was the dean of one of Harvard’s 13 undergraduate colleges.
(Updated 8/07/07)