Ripon College selects first woman president in its 170-year history
Kelly Meyerhofer
Ripon College named a new president, Victoria Folse, who will be the first woman to lead the private liberal arts institution in its 170-year history.
The college, which enrolls roughly 800 students and is about 20 miles west of Fond du Lac, announced her hire Tuesday. Folse succeeds Zach Messitte, who left at the end of 2021 to work as a consultant for higher education search firm Russell Reynolds, which assisted in Ripon's search.
Folse has more than three decades of experience in higher education, according to Ripon officials. She led Illinois Wesleyan University's response to COVID-19 in her capacity as the university's counseling and health services director. She also served as director of the School of Nursing since 2009.
“She cares about the liberal arts, understands the new realities and challenges, and is prepared to lead the liberal arts and this institution into the future," said Mark Franzen, who serves on the college's Board of Trustees and chaired the search committee.
Folse earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Illinois Wesleyan, a master of science in psychiatric nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Ph.D. in nursing with a concentration in research from Saint Louis University, according to Ripon College. She is a licensed nurse with expertise in eating disorders, suicide risk, sexuality, drugs and alcohol, among other specialties.
Folse starts July 1.
Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyMeyerhofer.