Provost Pareena Lawrence has been named President of Virginia’s Hollins University and will be leaving Augustana College in July, President Bahls announced Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016.
“This is sad news, but we knew this day would come,” said Dr. Wendy Hilton-Morrow, who works with Lawrence closely as Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Academic Initiative.
“(Lawrence) has shown incredible leadership and vision,” said Hilton-Morrow who shared that she values the way Lawrence always “looks ahead” while staying true to the college’s mission.
Lawrence will continue her role at Augustana until June and then will begin her duties at Hollins University in July 2017.
“President Bahls will work with his cabinet and a search committee in order to find a replacement,” Director of Public Relations Sam Schlouch said. 
The college will begin looking for a replacement for Lawrence immediately. Schlouch said the process could take months.
According to an email to the entire campus from President Bahls on Tuesday, the search committee will consist of Augustana’s administrative cabinet, faculty council, student government association and board of trustees.
Since becoming provost in 2011, Lawrence has been instrumental in many changes within the Augustana community including Augustana 2020.
“Losing Provost Lawrence is saddening.” said SGA president Charlie Bentley. “We are really going to miss her energy and passion.”
Bentley said that Lawrence’s devotion to issues of diversity and inclusion will be what he believes students will missed the most.
“She was a champion for everyone,” said Bentley. “I have always looked to her as a role model and a mentor.”
Lawrence will succeed Nancy Oliver Gray, who has served as president of Hollins University since 2005. She will be the university’s 12th president.
Lawrence has served as provost and Chief Academic Officer of Augustana since 2011.
Lawrence, 49, graduated from the University of Delhi in 1987 with honors with a degree in economics. She then moved to the United States two years later to pursue her Ph.D in economics at Purdue University.
Lawrence is married to her husband Todd, and has two sons. Her son, Aaron, is currently a sophomore at Augustana.