Wofford College President Nayef Samhat to Step Down After 13 Years

(Nayef Samhat photo courtesy of Wofford College)

Wofford College President Nayef Samhat announced that he will step down at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year, following 13 years of transformational advancement in the college’s academic, cultural and physical landscape.

“President Nayef Samhat is leaving Wofford College in an excellent position. By every metric — academic rigor, new student enrollment, retention, graduation rates, fiscal strength and student, alumni and parent engagement — Wofford College is thriving,” said Christopher A.P. Carpenter, Wofford Class of 1990 and chairman of the college’s board of trustees.

Carpenter added, “President Samhat has an unparalleled understanding of higher education, and he has led with a deep commitment to student access and success, integrity and a focus on the college’s mission and core values. The Wofford College Board of Trustees is grateful for his service.”

Samhat assumed the presidency in 2013.

Under his leadership, the college has completed:

• Two strategic visioning processes.
• A record $470 million comprehensive fund-raising campaign, including endowment growth of over $300 million (the total is now more than $485 million). That endowment growth enabled the college to significantly increase support for high-impact, experiential learning in the areas of study abroad, mentored research, internships and community-based learning.
• The construction of eight campus facilities: the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, the Stewart H. Johnson Greek Village, Jerome Johnson Richardson Hall, Milliken House in the Northside Station, Cumming Street parking/tailgate lot, the Chandler Center for Environmental Studies and Hope Field, a new softball stadium.
• The major renovation of 12 facilities, including: the Mungo Student Center, Sandor Teszler Library, Burwell Building dining hall, the Richardson Physical Activities Building, the Blackwell-Quattlebaum Center for Wellness and Counseling Services, the Keisler Family Building in the Reeves Tennis Center, Marsh and Greene residence halls, Jeremiah Tate Track at Snyder Field and the Kang Center.
• The acquisition of property surrounding the campus and in the Glendale community near the Goodall Environmental Studies Center.
• The addition of two women’s sports: lacrosse and softball.
• SACSCOC reaccreditation.
• New marketing and branding initiatives and many other plans, programs and grants that built community, boosted sustainability, championed the liberal arts and enhanced the educational experience for all students.

Wofford is now ranked among the top national liberal arts colleges, recognized for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, value and supportive alumni network.

Samhat has served as chair of the Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges and on the SACSCOC and IES boards of directors.

Other past national service includes the Council of Independent Colleges and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities boards of directors, as well as serving on the NCAA Division I board of directors and the NCAA board of governors, including service on the NCAA Division I Presidential Forum and as a mentor for the NCAA Pathway Program.

Samhat’s academic interests include international relations theory, international political economy and the politics of the Middle East, especially international relations in the Middle East.

He has contributed articles, papers, reviews and essays on these and other topics. Samhat is also a staunch advocate of the liberal arts educational experience and has been a national presenter, panelist and commentator on the subject.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Samhat holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University School of International and Public Affairs, a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in political science from Northwestern University.

Samhat came to Wofford after serving as provost and professor of political science and international studies at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Prior to his time at Kenyon, he was the Frank B. and Virginia B. Hower Associate Professor of Government and International Studies and an associate dean at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

Said Samhat: “I am deeply grateful to my colleagues on the board of trustees, an outstanding senior leadership team, a dedicated faculty and staff, and our wonderful students and alumni for welcoming us and working together to advance our college. Serving as the 11th president of Wofford College has been a singular honor and a great privilege.”

The Wofford College Board of Trustees has initiated a national search for its 12th president.

A search committee comprising trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni will be announced in the coming weeks. The goal is to name a new president by May 2026.

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.