SOULFUL SERVICE

Dr. Baxter celebrates five-year milestone

Since she arrived in 2020, President Susanna Baxter has seen her share of challenges, including navigating through a pandemic. On July 1, she marked her fifth anniversary of faithful service to the campus and community. To honor the milestone, we asked about her presidency and what lies ahead for the college.

Q: What first drew you to the realm of higher education?

A: It’s quite simple. I went to college and fell in love with it—the process, the mission—and knew I wanted to spend my life making a college education a reality for others.

Q: What made you want to transition to the role of a college president?

A: I had mentors and encouragers along my career path that kept planting seeds about my ability to be a president. I dismissed it at first, but then when enough people keep telling you something, it’s time to really pay attention.

Interestingly, former President Dan McAlexander was one of those people for me. He really encouraged me over the decade I knew him to explore opportunities and helped me think about how to navigate the presidential search process with the various search firms. I remain grateful to him for his guidance and support over the years.

So, I sat with the feedback I was receiving and then listened to what I was feeling about a potential transition. I also prayed for guidance that whatever path I took and wherever I found myself, I would be of service in the best way I could.

Q: What attracted you to LaGrange College?

A: What’s not to love about LaGrange College? I had known of the college and knew it enjoyed a strong reputation and beautiful campus, and in the visits I had made to LaGrange in my previous job, I also knew it was a special place because of the employees here. I had applied for other presidencies, but not to any institutions that I felt as connected to its mission.

I’m a lifelong United Methodist and I went to another United Methodist college for my undergraduate degree. I know the transformational change education through a Wesleyan lens provides firsthand, so to have an opportunity to help make it happen at LaGrange College was a dream come true.

Q: With COVID marking the start of your time here, what did you lean on when navigating through the unknown?

A: I think there are a lot of unknowns in our lives. The best laid plans don’t always come to fruition. COVID was its own beast of an unknown, and certainly it was interesting to start a job at that moment. But whether it is COVID or some other unknown that comes our way, I find it helpful to remember that whatever changes we’re forced to undertake, we need to uphold our values throughout.

In the face of employees being afraid for their health and having to reengineer campus and class to accommodate the new reality, I learned that when we stay true to our values, we can handle the unknown.

Q: When you began your presidency, what piece of advice did you receive that was particularly meaningful?

A: This one is easy. I’m not sure how many months I was in, but I was talking to a mentor and sharing about what was happening. The institution was in a hard moment, and I think my mood unfortunately matched the moment. After listening to me, my mentor said, “Get out of your office. Let’s hang up and I want you to go walk around and find some students to see.” She wanted me to remind myself why I got into the profession.

I continue to think about that advice. If it’s been a particularly challenging day, I find that I can refuel with a visit to the dining hall, an athletic competition or just watching students in Caswell Plaza in fellowship with each other. The students are the reason we all work here. Being around them reminds me that all the sacrifices and long hours are worth it.

Q: How do you think you have grown in your leadership role since you started?

A: I learn every day. I hope I’ve learned to let some of the small stuff take up less brain space. In the presidency, there are constantly things to be thinking about, and early on I think I may have spent more time thinking about all of it instead of prioritizing the most important things that needed my attention. It’s that old adage, “Keep the main thing, the main thing.”

Q: What do you consider as key achievements so far during your presidency?

A: In an increasingly challenging environment for small, private colleges, there are several key areas that I am most proud of that have occurred with the help of many people. I’m proud of the hard work we accomplished early on to put us on stronger financial footing. The five-year strategic plan that called for us to think innovatively about how we execute our mission is also a highlight for me as we came together to chart a path forward within the new realities post-COVID. This plan has led to new and revamped academic programs that are attracting new students and serving our region’s workforce needs.

I’m also proud of the generous donors who have made campus improvements possible over these five years. From classroom spaces to residence halls, we have made some critical investments to improve student experience. These investments are paying off with improved student enrollment and retention.

Q: How do you feel the strategic plan aligns with your vision for the college?

A: I think a good strategic plan is rooted in the mission of the college, and the strategic plan should help reach the vision. Therefore, I see them as very much linked. Our plan is to strategically grow our enrollment though innovative programs. Once students arrive, we will holistically educate them—mind, body and soul—to live lives of integrity and moral courage.

Q: What are the moments that remind you why you love your job?

A: Any time I’m interacting with students I am reminded of why I love my job. It’s an absolute honor to help students move into their residence hall and then see them come into their own over their time here. I found myself thinking at Honor’s Day this year things like, “Look at you now winning

awards! I remember when you moved in and looked so scared and were questioning whether you belonged at LaGrange College.”

It’s equally rewarding to speak with alumni and hear their profound stories of the difference LaGrange College made in their lives. Each of these precious moments reminds me of the privilege it is to be President. Who wouldn’t love this place and this job?

Q: Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself when you were a new president?

A: Buckle-up.

Q: What would you give as a tagline to describe your presidency?

A: Committed to success.

Q: As you begin your next chapter here, how do you view the challenges you faced during those early years?

A: Hang with me here for a moment. The United Methodist logo contains a cross and flame. The flame represents the refiner’s fire that molds and shapes us. It conjures up for me the metal worker who uses the heat to shape the work into a functional tool or beautiful piece of art. To me the challenges of the first five years feel like the flame and the institution was that piece of metal. God was able to work through this campus and our wonderful faculty and staff to allow that heat of the flame to shape us into something even more useful and beautiful.

Q: What encourages you about the next five years for LC?

A: In a word, “innovation.” Through connection and collaboration, LC faculty have created new academic programs to support the vital industries in this region. Whether it be education, healthcare, manufacturing, sports management, aviation or any of the other academic programs, we are innovating. We continue to build meaningful experiences outside of the classroom for our students to get hands-on learning.

The synergy that we’re gaining through expanded conversations in the region about the ways our graduates can help make this area more vibrant is exciting. We’ve just started to scratch the surface for what we can do, which makes each day worth getting up for.

AN ERA OF EXCELLENCE

2025

• Residence halls improved

• Nursing articulation agreement signed with Technical College System of Georgia

• Manufacturing Engineering Technology bachelor’s degree launched

2024

• Master’s program in Higher Education Administration begins

• Divinity 3+3 program partnership formed with Emory University

• Pathway to Counseling program established for Gordon State College students

• New academic programs launched: Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, minors in Computer Science and Neuroscience and concentration in Strength and Conditioning

2023

• Women’s Golf and Women’s Flag Football added to Athletics teams

• ‘Best Value’ ranking earned for fifth year in a row

• Wellstar partnership for sports medicine services established

• Aviation minor launched

• Classrooms on second floor of Callaway Academic Building renovated

2022

• Top 10 position in WalletHub’s 2023 Best College & University Georgia rankings earned

• Master planning process begins

• Moshell Learning Center and Tutoring Lab at Lewis Library expanded

• New strategic plan approved

• Education program transferred into new space at West Side

• Athletics joins Collegiate Conference of the South

2021

• Third floor of Smith Hall renovated

2020

• Top 5 ranking in U.S. News & World Report ratings received

• Student Engagement offices consolidated on second floor of Smith Hall