Meet Meredith’s Ninth President
A Q&A with President Aimee Sapp
By Melyssa Allen
Meet Meredith’s Ninth President
A Q&A with President Aimee Sapp
By Melyssa Allen
In March, the Meredith College Board of Trustees selected Aimee Sapp to serve as the College’s ninth president. Sapp brings more than 25 years of higher education experience at her alma mater, William Woods University, where she advanced from assistant professor to provost and chief academic officer.
After she began her tenure in July, she shared about her background and her plans in an interview with Meredith Magazine.
Meredith Magazine: What are you most excited about now that you are president of Meredith College?
Aimee Sapp: “The potential for Meredith and the people of Meredith. Those two things have made me eager to be a part of this community. Meredith has a notable history with a well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and for living out its commitment to building strong women.
There is a culture of support here for Meredith that is admirable, and that support stretches back generations. Any institution or organization is only as strong as the people who care for its well-being. We have some special people here, all throughout our campus community – from long-time board members to active alumnae and to recent hires who have joined our team. Additionally, I’m overjoyed to return to such a beautiful state and eager to plant deep roots in a growing city where Meredith is well-positioned to expand its reach.”
MM: What would you like alumnae to know about you?
MM: What are some early goals you have for yourself as you get to know the Meredith community?
AS: “As a leader and as an academic with a background in communication, I think my first and most essential task is to be a good listener. It is important to me that I have lots of conversations in this first year with students, faculty and staff, alumnae, board members, and community leaders. Before we find our voice, we need to find our ears. So, I plan to learn as much as I can about the story of Meredith – discovering what our strengths are and what we do well – so that we can build on those strengths and chart the future of Meredith College.”
MM: What do you think the focus of your first months at Meredith will be?
AS: “More than a few of my colleagues in higher education have compared the first few months of this role to drinking from the end of a fire hose. Early on my focus will be on building relationships with the executive leadership team, getting to know faculty and staff, and meeting our students.
I’m convinced that the best leadership is relational and not transactional, so I also want to build relationships in the community and with long-time friends of the College. We’ll begin reviewing our strategic plan and assess what areas of campus life need attention for the future growth of Meredith College.”
MM: Why do you think women’s colleges like Meredith are still an important option in higher ed?
AS: “The need for women’s education remains as important today as when we began in 1891 – empowering young women to reach their full potential is timeless. That need hasn’t changed so neither has our essential mission. A women’s college provides a unique, value-added option for women to develop leadership skills, learn from other women, build lasting friendships, and forge strong bonds with alumnae. Women develop both confidence and competence in a place that celebrates women’s achievements. That is certainly what I found to be true as a graduate of a women’s college myself. Like a plant that grows best in a certain soil and climate, women grow strong in this kind of academic environment.”
MM: What do you think are the biggest challenges faced in higher education? What are the biggest opportunities?
AS: “Like the many heads of Hydra in ancient Greek mythology, there are several challenges for higher education at the moment. I’ll mention just a few. There are mounting financial pressures for institutions. Some schools are trying to figure out if they can survive. Others are assessing how they can continue to thrive in the current landscape. There is a need to make college more affordable and more accessible to interested students. Equally challenging, we are facing a demographic cliff where the pool of high school graduates is shrinking. I’ll add one more point: the world is changing rapidly, and each school must figure out how best to fulfill or refine their mission in the face of such sweeping changes.
But there are also big opportunities. Higher education has long been a place that builds on the best of tradition – the received wisdom that has been passed down – and adds to it a spirit of curiosity that leads to innovation and growth. This is something we see up close here in North Carolina. With the proximity of the Research Triangle, we have a great opportunity to pursue new partnerships that support strategic growth for the College and new possibilities for our students.”
MM: How will your family support you as Meredith’s president?
AS: “My husband, Travis, also works in higher education and has extensive experience in different aspects of college life. He has been a faculty member, worked as a campus chaplain, assisted in advancement efforts, and launched a very successful global studies program that has traveled with students to every continent. He also loves working with students and his experience and insight will be a great asset to me as I serve in this role. Our children are currently in college, spread out across the country, and working on different degrees. They enjoyed their time this summer at the Massey House and are eager to get back on school breaks. I should also add that we have a few precious dogs that are an important part of our family. You might see Brandy and Aspen at a game or on a walk around campus. As a giant Bernedoodle, you might mistake Brandy for a friendly black bear. That just means we need to get her in to see the groomer!”
MM: What are some “fun facts” about yourself that you’d like to share?
AS: “I love to travel. Travis and I like to explore new places around the world when we have the opportunity. I’m one trip away from having visited every continent. My superpower is song lyrics. It comes in handy as a party trick or whenever we are singing in the car or whenever my husband starts making up the lyrics when he can’t quite remember them.”
President Sapp looks forward to meeting alumnae when they are on campus for Reunion and other events. The Office of Alumnae Relations is also hosting alumnae events for her throughout the year. Visit meredith.edu/alumnae to make sure the College has your current contact information so you can keep up to date with these opportunities.