The University of Dayton Board of Trustees has named provost Darlene Weaver the university's 20th president, making her the first woman to lead the school in its 176-year history, according to the university. Weaver, who has served as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs since July 2023, is scheduled to begin her presidency July 1, succeeding Eric F. Spina.
The university's leadership page says Weaver's presidential announcement press conference was held October 12. She brings 25 years of experience in Catholic higher education, with previous appointments at Duquesne, Villanova and Georgetown, according to UD.
In an interview with WYSO Public Radio, Weaver said she wants to raise UD's national profile in Catholic higher education. She described the university's residential learning environment and holistic student experience as strengths that will matter in an AI-enabled world.
From Pell Grant Student to University President
WYSO reported that Weaver used a Pell Grant and scholarships to pay for college. She has described her move into university administration as a way to serve a mission she believed in.
Weaver first visited UD as a parent accompanying her son. She told WYSO she was impressed by the university's academic excellence, community role and commitment to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
Since the appointment announcement, Weaver has met alumni and donors on the West Coast and spent time with campus volunteers and alumni leaders, WYSO reported.
AI Curriculum and an IBM Partnership
As provost, Weaver helped develop a new artificial intelligence curriculum for first-year students, according to UD. The university's leadership page also credits her with helping secure an IBM partnership to create a state-of-the-art semiconductor lab on campus. Weaver holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, Yale University and the University of Chicago.
Weaver told WYSO that AI could reshape higher education and the workforce sectors UD serves. She has also said UD students are two to three years ahead of their peers in workforce readiness, and that enrollment pressures tied to a demographic cliff will persist through 2041.
Enrollment outlook
The national projection offers context for the enrollment pressures Weaver described, but is not an Ohio-specific estimate. According to WICHE's 2024 projections, the number of high school graduates nationally is expected to peak before declining steadily through 2041.
Weaver is handing her current responsibilities to UD's interim provost and preparing to work with Spina during an eight-month transition, WYSO reported. She said she plans to set transition priorities, engage internal and external stakeholders, and build relationships with direct-report colleagues, alumni and donors.
What's Next for the University
The university plans to launch a national search for its next provost soon, according to WYSO's report. UD is also expected to undergo broader leadership changes, academic realignment, school restructuring and new programs, with a new campus master plan in development and the former fairgrounds development at OnMain counted among the university's institutional assets. The University of Dayton Research Institute had been slated to become a wholly owned subsidiary on Nov. 1.
