Illinois college installs 15th president in school's 171-year history

Monmouth College celebrated the 15th president in its 171-year history Friday, Oct. 4, when Patricia Draves was inaugurated in a ceremony on the plaza in front of Wallace Hall, a building named in honor of the college's first president, the Rev. David Wallace.

After an extensive national search, Draves was the unanimous choice of the college's presidential search committee and took office in July. Before that, she was president of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, for the previous seven school years.

"I am filled with immense gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility," Draves said in a news release from the college. "It is not just a privilege to be your president; it is an honor to be entrusted with the legacy of Monmouth College — a legacy built on the ideals of scholarship, leadership, community, service and transformation of students."

In a message titled "Rooted in Legacy, Growing Our Future," Draves shared her vision for the college, all the while noting that it will be a group effort.

"We must cultivate a vision that honors our past while embracing the possibilities that lie ahead — together," she said in the news release. "I envision a Monmouth College that is a beacon of academic excellence, celebrates the Monmouth experience, takes advantage of our outstanding location, and is a place where students from all backgrounds come together to learn, grow and challenge one another to reach their full potential."

A Rhode Island native, Draves is a former member of Monmouth's faculty, serving alongside her husband, Jeff Draves, in the chemistry department from 2002 to 2006. Jeff Draves is also an alumnus of Monmouth, graduating in 1985.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Illinois college installs 15th president in school's 171-year history