about President Michael E. Hill
Michael E. Hill is Randolph-Macon’s 16th president. He assumed the office in 2025 after a robust nationwide search.
Dr. Hill was President of Chautauqua Institution, immediately preceding his service to Randolph-Macon. The nationally renowned educational community is dedicated to engaged dialogue and cultural enrichment, hosting cultural programs and learning experiences on its campus in western New York and in virtual settings. Dr. Hill led a transformation of the 150-year-old institution through new partnerships, new funding sources, and a bold new vision that extends its reach nationwide. While there, he completed the Institution’s largest campaign ever, Boundless, a $150-million effort to bring new facilities and increased endowment support, ending the campaign 18 months ahead of schedule and eclipsing its goal.
Dr. Hill was a first-generation graduate of St. Bonaventure University, the nation’s oldest Franciscan liberal arts college where he was a staff member early in his career. He served on the University’s Board of Trustees, culminating his service as the Board’s Secretary and co-chair of its most recent presidential search committee. He earned a master’s degree in arts and cultural management from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. He has lectured frequently on nonprofit management to international audiences, trade organizations, and as a visiting lecturer for Georgetown University. He is a member of the Robert H. Jackson Center Board of Directors and a member of the Leadership Network of the American Enterprise Institute.
Dr. Hill previously led the non-profit Youth for Understanding USA and served in senior roles at United Cerebral Palsy, Washington National Cathedral, and The Washington Ballet. He was a founding faculty member at George Mason University’s Master of Arts Management program, where he taught in an adjunct role for more than a decade and was named faculty member of the year in 2011. His career comes full circle back to this region, as he served as a Dow Jones Fellow at the Richmond Times-Dispatch 30 years ago.
Dr. Hill succeeds President Robert R. Lindgren, who retired after nearly 20 years as RMC’s 15th president in July 2025. For more on President Lindgren’s tenure, click here.
Michael and his husband Peter, along with their golden retriever Wilbur, are enthusiastic new residents of Ashland. As fans of the arts, they look forward to exploring Richmond and being near family in the mid-Atlantic region.