ATHENS, Ala. — Athens State University has appointed its new 39th president. Dr. Catherine M. Wehlburg's appointment as the university's third woman to hold this position marks a historic moment, with her becoming the first woman president in almost a century. Dr. Wehlburg, who has been serving as Interim President since January 2023, expressed her excitement about assuming the permanent role.
Our Jasamine Byrd recently sat down with Dr. Wehlburg to explore her plans and vision for the university's future.
"Well, it's a wonderful experience. I am elated and excited about the next chapter of Athens State. I think that to be at this point as we start our third century of educating students and to be able to have the opportunity to lead our wonderful faculty and staff in doing what we do best, it is thrilling."
Founded as a women's college 200 years ago, Athens State has evolved over time, and Dr. Wehlburg sees her appointment as a significant step forward. "Of the 39 individuals who have led, having only three women is a relatively small number. So I would say it's about time," she added.
Looking ahead to her first full school year as president, Dr. Wehlburg highlighted the university's commitment to supporting adult learners.
"Well, we have a lot of opportunities in front of us. One of the areas that we're going to be focusing on is our adult learner population. We have a large number of students who are adults. They have careers, they are working, they have families, they have other responsibilities, and yet they are here to try and complete their credential, their degree. And our role in supporting those students is crucial. We have in the state of Alabama, there were over 500,000 individuals who have some college but no credential. And our focus this this upcoming year and for years to come is to continue to help them finish what they have started and finish their degree."
Dr. Wehlburg has over three decades of experience in higher education and both an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Florida. Prior to her role as Interim President, she served as the University's Provost and has held positions at national organizations including the American Association of Colleges and Universities.