Mississippi University for Women President Dr. Claudia Limbert announced her retirement today, months before the state College Board is expected to consider her proposal to change the name of the nation”s first state-supported college for women.
“I think you all know that the highest professional honor in my life has been the privilege of serving as president of MUW,” Limbert said this morning at a press conference on campus at Cochran Hall. “The faculty and staff with whom I have worked at MUW and the students whom I have come to know have enhanced and enriched my life beyond words.”
Limbert”s retirement will go into effect when her contract ends, June 30, 2010.
The announcement marks the end of a long feud between the embattled president and the school”s former Alumnae Association, which supported the school for more than a century.
Limbert cut ties with the MUW Alumnae Association in 2007, forming a new group of former students.
The new MUW Alumni Association officially carries the university”s name. The old Alumnae Association changed its name to Mississippi”s First Alumnae Association, after losing a Supreme Court battle. The state”s high court decided Limbert had the right to disaffiliate with the group.
Limbert, whose appointment by the state Institutions of Higher Learning as 13th president of MUW began July 1, 2002, said retirement was a family decision. She wanted to make the announcement early so the IHL “would have ample time and opportunity to plan for the transition to a new president.”
Limbert offered thanks to the College Board and IHL Commissioner Hank Bounds, as well as the city of Columbus, Lowndes County and the Golden Triangle and MUW students, also saying working at MUW has been a “real pleasure.”
“During my two terms here, we have had some wonderful times and some not-so-wonderful times,” Limbert said. “We have always celebrated the wonderful and we have always plowed right on through the not-so-wonderful.”
Originally from Missouri, Limbert holds a bachelor”s degree in English, history and education from Bethel College in Kansas and a master”s degree in creative writing and a doctorate in English literature, both from Boston University.
Limbert began her career as an English and women”s studies professor at Pennsylvania State University, Shenango, where she also served as an administrative fellow and director of academic affairs at Penn State, DuBois. She also served as campus executive officer from 1998 until being appointed president of Mississippi University for Women.
After a months-long process involving surveys and meetings with professional agencies, alumnae, students and Columbus residents, Limbert in August announced Reneau University as the school”s choice for a new name.
MUW officials said they did not know when the IHL board would take up the name change, but it was not on the agenda for the board”s meeting at Alcorn State University in Lorman on Wednesday and Thursday.
If approved by the College Board, the state Legislature also would have to sign off on the name change. Reneau University would be the fourth name for the historic university.
The name honors Sallie Reneau, an early pioneer of Mississippi higher education for women, whose efforts led to the founding of the university.
MUW was founded as the Industrial Institute and College in 1884. In 1920, II&C became Mississippi State College for Women. And in 1974, MUW adopted its current name.
The school has admitted men since 1982.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.