Our Leadership
President John E. Klein
John E. Klein
John E. Klein was named Randolph College's ninth president on June 13, 2007. He arrived on campus in August, three days before the first men arrived to join the inaugural coed class at the College, after the institution's illustrious 116-year history as a women's college.
With a strong financial background, a commitment to the liberal arts, and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges inherent in change, President Klein has devoted his energies to guiding Randolph College through its transition to coeducation, strengthening its financial position and management in a difficult economic environment, adding to and renovating its campus facilities, and maintaining its commitment to an outstanding academic program-all while honoring the College's rich heritage as Randolph-Macon Woman's College.
Randolph College has made remarkable progress since President Klein's tenure began, and that positive momentum continues in nearly every aspect of the institution. For example:
- Randolph has, in recent years, experienced significant growth in enrollment and alumnae and alumni giving.
- Randolph has adopted a new Mission Statement, added majors in Business and Sport and Exercise Studies, and adopted a new First-Year Experience program.
- Randolph has developed a new Facilities Master Plan and a space utilization plan for the campus, built a new state-of-the-art artificial turf field and track stadium, completely renovated the Student Center, renovated the main floor of Lipscomb Library and Main Hall, renovated the Caldwell Commons conference room and campus store area on the first floor of West Hall, renovated the tennis courts, upgraded the Riding Center facilities, made landscaping improvements throughout the 100-acre campus, and begun the renovation and air-conditioning of the College's residence halls.
- Randolph has created a new integrated planning and assessment process, including the development and adoption of its 2011 Strategic Plan for the subsequent five years.
- Randolph has received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and School, with approval of the College's Quality Enhancement Plan, Bridges Not Walls, to stimulate intercultural competence.
- Randolph has created a new College magazine, Randolph, which won a special merit award from CASE during its first year, and launched the award-winning Be an Original marketing campaign.
- Randolph has revitalized its athletic programs, including building five men's teams. The men's soccer team won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championship in 2011 and made it all the way to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Round; the men's basketball team made it to the ODAC Championship game in both 2011 and 2012; and the softball team made it to the ODAC Championship game in 2011.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, President Klein is a 1967 graduate of Princeton University, with a degree in history, and a 1971 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. His professional life has included careers as a teacher, lawyer, business executive, and academic administrator. He was the President and CEO of Bunge North America for more than 18 years and, during his 28-year career with Bunge, he lived in Belgium, Holland, London, Brazil, Argentina, New York and St. Louis. When he retired from Bunge, President Klein was named Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration at Washington University in St. Louis and served in that position for three years, before assuming his current position at Randolph College. In Lynchburg, President Klein serves on the boards of Amazement Square Children's Museum and the Society of St. Andrew.
President Klein has been married for more than 40 years to Susan V. Klein. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Klein graduated from the University of Michigan in 1971 with a degree in English. She then worked for five years as a banker in New York City with Citibank and Irving Trust Company. When she and President Klein moved to Brussels, she worked for three years as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium.
Mrs. Klein is the past chairman of the Fine Arts Committee of the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Reception Rooms and a former trustee of the St. Louis Art Museum. She and President Klein are members of the Bryant Fellows of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Art Forum of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In Lynchburg, she serves on the James River Council for the Arts and Humanities.
Mrs. Klein has been a full-time partner with President Klein in many aspects of the College. She has been personally involved in re-connecting with alumnae and alumni at Reunion and at the more than 60 alumnae and alumni chapter events that President Klein and she have attended around the country during the past five years. Mrs. Klein takes an active part in campus life and is well-known for attending numerous campus events, as well as opening the doors of the President's House to members of the College and Lynchburg community.
President and Mrs. Klein have two grown children, Jennie and Tom. Jennie is a graduate of Princeton University and works in New York after recently completing her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Virginia. Tom is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School and works in New York.
