Jessup University is handing the keys to the president’s office to Dr. Meghan Barnard, naming her the school’s seventh president and the first woman to lead the Rocklin-based university. She is scheduled to formally take the role on July 1, 2026, succeeding interim President Parnell M. Lovelace Jr. Barnard arrives from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where she has been serving as provost and senior vice president, wrapping up a national search Jessup launched earlier this spring.
In its announcement, Jessup University described Barnard as a respected and innovative higher-education leader who brings "more than 20 years" of experience and a track record of academic transformation. Board Chair Bonnie Gore and Search Committee Chair Rachael Gelsinger praised both her professional background and personal character in the release.
Who Is Meghan Barnard?
Barnard joined Southeastern University in 2017 and steadily moved through academic leadership roles to become provost and senior vice president. In that post she oversaw new degree programs, expanded experiential learning and revisions to academic pathways aimed at improving student outcomes, according to her biography at Southeastern University. Her academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College, an MBA from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Ph.D. in texts and technology from the University of Central Florida.
Search Process And Local Reaction
Jessup kicked off a national search in March and partnered with FaithSearch Partners to identify candidates, a process the university framed as part of stabilizing and growing its mission, according to Jessup University. Local coverage quickly picked up on the significance of the hire for Rocklin, with The Sacramento Bee noting that Barnard will be the first woman to lead the university and relaying reactions from trustees and campus leaders.
Barnard steps into the job as regional leaders and employers watch to see how Jessup prioritizes student opportunity, program innovation and community partnerships. Her early months on the job will likely set the tone for the next academic year as trustees, faculty and students look to translate the goals of the search process into concrete changes on campus.
