Huntingdon College, in Montgomery, has named its 15th president, Dr. Anthony Leigh, who will take the position effective July 1.
Leigh currently serves as senior vice president for student and institutional development and dean of students.
On July 1, J. Cameron West will assume the role of president emeritus and senior advisor for United Methodist Polity. West is completing his 21st year at Huntingdon, where he solidified the financial health of the college and reclaimed its historic connection to the United Methodist Church. During his tenure, enrollment has grown and endowments have doubled.
“Dr. Anthony Leigh has demonstrated an unmatched passion and enthusiasm for serving Huntingdon students. He is a gifted administrator, and he clearly understands the internal operations of the college and effectively communicates the mission of the college to external constituencies,” said Leura Garrett Canary, Huntingdon Board of Trustees chairman. “For 15 years, he has been an integral part of the success of President West’s leadership, and we are confident that he is the leader Huntingdon needs to propel the college to its next chapter of excellence and to champion the Heart of Huntingdon campaign.”
A Sheffield native, Leigh is a graduate of Wofford College in South Carolina and earned his master’s degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Georgia.
He currently is a member of Montgomery First United Methodist Church and attends Frazer Church. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Business Council of Alabama, a member of the Committee on the Episcopacy for the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.
“The college enjoys a respected reputation across Alabama and beyond, and I look forward to celebrating and advancing the greatness of the Huntingdon experience around the region,” Leigh said. “Serving Huntingdon students fuels me, and I’m excited about working with our dedicated faculty and staff in this new role and leveraging the resources of our alumni and friends for the benefit of our exceptional student body.”
