The Randolph-Macon College Board of Trustees unanimously selected Dr. Michael E. Hill as the College’s 16th president. The appointment is effective August 1, 2025.

Hill will join the Randolph-Macon community after completing his tenure as President of Chautauqua Institution, an educational community in western New York dedicated to engaged dialogue and cultural enrichment. 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.

“My appointment at Randolph-Macon is the culmination of a career spent walking alongside young people as they discover who they are and as they dream of who they want to be,” Hill said. “I believe profoundly in the role of learning across disciplines to become a better version of yourself. I am honored and thrilled to return to higher education at a storied institution that has been doing that and more for nearly 200 years.”

“Michael’s extraordinary experience, proven track record, and infectious positive energy fits this moment at Randolph-Macon, when we have so much momentum toward the future,” noted Board of Trustees Chair Sue Schick ‘84. “As we near our bicentennial, I am confident we have found a leader committed to aligning innovations that will help sustain us with a deep commitment to the tradition of a Randolph-Macon education.”

Hill was appointed by the RMC Board of Trustees following a nationwide search by a presidential search committee made up of trustees, faculty, staff, and students.

“Dr. Hill emerged from our crowded field of candidates because of the excellence he’s demonstrated in architecting and delivering a transformative strategic vision. In his previous roles, he simultaneously broadened the mission of the institution, and enhanced its financial sustainability,” explained Dave Meleski ‘81, who chaired the presidential search committee. “Our committee was continually impressed by his exceptional record of external resource development, innovation and partnerships, and his ability to bring communities together.”

Hill was a first-generation graduate of St. Bonaventure University, a 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. 

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 also 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.

Hill will succeed President Robert R. Lindgren, who will retire 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, plan to join the Ashland community as residents this summer. As fans of the arts, they look forward to exploring Richmond and being near family in the mid-Atlantic region.