List of Principals & Presidents (1837-)

Mary Lyon founded the college in 1837 and was the first principal.

List of Principals & Presidents (1837-)

Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, was Principal of the school from 1837 until her death in 1849. Her successors as Principal were Mary C. Whitman (1849-1850), Mary W. Chapin (1850-1865), Sophia D. Stoddard (Acting Principal, 1865-1867), and Helen M. French (1867-1872). In 1888, Elizabeth Blanchard, who had served as Principal since 1883, was named Acting President when Mount Holyoke's charter was changed to allow the school to grant degrees. Mary A. Brigham was elected President in 1889, but died in a railway accident on the way to assume her duties. Louise F. Cowles was Acting President until Elizabeth Storrs Mead became the first non-alumna President of the College in 1890. Her successor, Mary Emma Woolley, was elected President in 1900, took office in 1901, and served until 1937. In a controversial appointment, Roswell Gray Ham then became Mount Holyoke's first male President. His successor, Richard Glenn Gettell, was President until his resignation in 1968. Academic Dean and history professor Meribeth E. Cameron, who had served as Acting President when Presidents Ham and Gettell were on leave in 1954 and 1966, filled that office once again until David B. Truman became President in 1978. His successors as President have been Elizabeth T. Kennan (1978-1995) and Joanne V. Creighton (1996-present).

1. Mary Lyon                                                1837-1849
       Founder and Principal

2. Mary C. Whitman (Class of 1839)            1849-1850
       Principal

3. Mary W. Chapin (Class of 1843)              1850-1865
       Principal

4. Sophia D. Stoddard (Class of 1841)        1865-1867
       Acting Principal

5. Helen M. French (Class of 1857)              1867-1872
       Principal

6. Julia E. Ward (Class of 1857)                   1872-1883
      Principal

7. Elizabeth Blanchard (Class of 1858)        1883-1889
       Principal and President


 

8. Mary A. Brigham (Class of x1849)          1889
      President Elect

9. Louisa F. Cowles (Class of 1866)             1889-1890
       Acting President




10. Elizabeth Storrs Mead                              1890-1900
       President

11. Mary E. Woolley                                       1900-1937
       President

12. Roswell G. Ham                                       1937-1957
        President

13. Richard Glenn Gettell                               1957-1968
        President

14. Meribeth E. Cameron                                1968-1969
        Acting President

15. David B. Truman                                      1969-1978
        President

16. Elizabeth T. Kennan (Class of 1960)        1978-1995    
       President

17. Joanne V. Creighton                                 1996-
        President