LINDSBORG – The Bethany College Board of Directors announced today, that by unanimous decision, Dr. Elizabeth Mauch has been appointed to lead Bethany College as its 15th president.
Mauch has served as the interim president since July of 2019 and is the first woman to be appointed to serve at Bethany College as president.
"Dr. Mauch's tenacious work ethic and her commitment to transparency and openness make her the obvious choice to lead us through these trying times and into a bright future,” said Roper DeGarmo, chair of the board of directors.
Plans for a formal celebration will be made at a later date.
Mauch came to Bethany College as the vice president of academic affairs. Prior to that, she served as the dean of the college of education at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania from 2012 to May of 2017 and before that was professor of mathematics and interim dean from 2009 to 2012. In May of 2018, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board selected Mauch for a Fulbright award to Poland. In June 2019, Mauch went to Lodz University of Technology in Lodz, Poland and taught STEM faculty techniques of flipped classrooms, how to use these techniques for the types of learners educated at Lodz University of Technology, and the best methods for assisting them in understanding STEM subjects.
The Fulbright award was an extension of her research interest in the recruitment and retention of students in STEM disciplines. Her research in this subject began as an undergraduate at Moravian College where she completed an honor’s project on cooperative learning in mathematics education under the direction of Dr. Robert Mayer. While at Bloomsburg University, she continued her study as she led the Math & Science Resource Center. She broadened the vision of the center and enhanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics educational experiences with STEM summer campus for local 5th through 12th grade students, and research-based training and development programs for local STEM subject teachers.
During her time as dean of the college of education at Bloomsburg University, she was able to work collaboratively with university faculty, regional school districts, superintendents, local politicians, and area business leaders to extend the initiatives she started as director of the Math & Science Center. Starting as the STEM Magnet Program, her efforts led to what is now known as the Regional STEM Education Center. Mauch also customized a mathematics program with school districts and industry in the rural central Pennsylvania region, creating a successful rural STEM model. One of her most significant responsibilities as dean was to provide fiscal leadership in the on-going operations of the various programs. She worked to secure sustainable funding from regional businesses through a Pennsylvania tax program known as the Educational Incentive Tax Credit system, secured sustainable funding from Bloomsburg University and obtained grants for innovative new programming.
“I am humbled to have been asked to serve as the 15th President of Bethany College. Even though we are entering a semester with many unknowns, I am excited about the future of Bethany College,” Mauch said.
Mauch is currently focused on the upcoming Higher Learning Commission visit that will happen in February of 2021 and maintaining a safe and healthy campus for the upcoming semester.