Jill Leauber Marsteller, Ursinus College’s first woman president, has a unique perspective of the liberal arts school as a former student, alumna, parent, and senior vice president for advancement, writes Ed Moorhouse for ursinus.edu.

While studying at Ursinus, Marsteller originally wanted to teach in high school.

But after impressing the then Academic Dean of the College, Richard Bozorth, with her presentation on Victorian Literature, he promptly changed her future with just a few sentences.

“I want you to know I have never seen anything quite like your presentation,” he told her. “Have you ever considered teaching at the college level?”

After earning her master’s degree at Villanova University, she returned to Ursinus as a volunteer administrative assistant for the English department. Six months later, she was asked to become a lecturer in English.

“I had my better dream job at the age of 26,” Marsteller said.

Years later, she shifted from teaching into an administrative role, serving at both Lehigh University and Haverford College before returning to Ursinus and finally becoming the school’s first woman president.

Through it all, Jill Leauber Marsteller stayed true to herself.

“If you try to be the leader that someone else is, it’s going to be a shoe that doesn’t fit,” she said. “You must have your own style and be authentic.”

Read more about Jill Leauber Marsteller at ursinus.edu.