Marjorie Hass

Moderator: Marjorie Hass began her tenure as the 20th president of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2017. Under her leadership, Rhodes launched a new master’s degree in urban education, began an inclusive strategic planning process, and has been recognized for its academic rigor and the career success of its graduates. Hass has worked to strengthen the bond between the college and the city of Memphis, securing a transformational gift to the Lynn and Henry Turley Memphis Center that more than doubled the college’s investment in community partnerships. Previously, Hass served for eight years as president of Austin College, where she oversaw considerable growth in the size and strength of the college’s applicant pool as well as increased retention; major improvements in the environmental sustainability of the institution; and strengthening of the college’s financial position. Earlier, Hass was provost of Muhlenberg College, where she spent more than 16 years as a member of the faculty. She began her career as a philosophy professor, publishing in the areas of philosophy of logic, philosophy of language, and feminist philosophy. Hass serves as a board member of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, is former chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and is a former member of the CIC Board of Directors. She earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.