Lori S. White collection

Lori S. White is the 21st President of DePauw University. Most recently, she was the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and a Professor of Practice at Washington University in St. Louis. At DePauw, she also holds the rank of professor of education. She is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as DePauw's president.

Dr. White has spent 30 years working in higher education. Prior to her arrival at Washington University she served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and clinical professor of education at Southern Methodist University, and has also worked at the University of Southern California, Stanford, Georgetown and San Diego State Universities, and University of California, Irvine.

At Washington University, Dr. White and her colleagues oversaw a range of student life programs including: residence halls; student activities; student leadership programs; student conduct; the Center for Diversity and Inclusion; the First Year Student Center; health and wellness programs; career services; student academic support programs; international students and scholars; scholarship programs; the Danforth University Center; and Washington University athletics and recreational programs.

Dr. White is active nationally in several higher education organizations and has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Foundation. In 2009 she was named a Pillar of the Profession by NASPA. Dr. White was chair of the NASPA Board of Directors for 2016-2017.

Dr. White’s areas of emphasis in research and teaching include the student experience in higher education and the preparation and mentorship of new, mid-level and aspiring senior student affairs professionals. She is the author of a number of articles and book chapters and has presented widely at professional meetings. Her most recent publications appear in a co-edited volume titled Transformational Encounters: Shaping Diverse College and University Leaders and another titled Keep Calm and Call the Dean of Students: A Guide to Understanding the Many Facets of the Dean of Students Role.

Born and raised in San Francisco, CA., Dr. White earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and English from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in education administration and policy analysis, with emphasis in higher education. She also participated in Harvard University’s Management and Leadership in Education Program.

An avid college sports fan, Dr. White can name the mascot of just about every Division I college (and she is working on learning all of the mascots for Division III).

Source: “President Lori S. White Biography.” DePauw University. Marketing and Communications, 2020. https://www.depauw.edu/about/president/biography/.