Dr. Sherilyn Emberton to retire in May from HU

Sherilyn R. Emberton, EdD, president of Huntington University since 2013, officially announced that she will retire following the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. Emberton’s presidency concludes a 23-year career in Christian higher education culminating with 12 years as HU’s chief executive officer and the national director of education for the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.

“The Church of the United Brethren in Christ is grateful for Dr. Emberton’s leadership at Huntington University,” said Rev. Todd Fetters, bishop of the U.S. National Conference. “She has led our denominational college through continual growth and innovation, making it stronger than ever. I admire the way she has led with vision, collaboration, humility and a deep faith.”

Prior to her time at HU, Emberton served in various leadership roles at East Texas Baptist University, Lincoln Memorial University, LeTourneau University and Texas State Technical College.

“Serving with the faculty, staff and Board of Trustees at Huntington University has been the highlight of my professional career,” said Emberton. “I have loved being part of the United Brethren denomination, community of Huntington, Northeast Indiana and the wonderful independent colleges and universities of Indiana. By far, the greatest joy in that journey has been my interaction with students. I have been blessed by the opportunity to become a part of the Forester Family and will forever be grateful for all the people who have been part of this legacy Christ-centered institution.”

Since 2013, Huntington University has grown 34%, with much of the increase coming from expanding locations and academic initiatives. The University’s locations in Peoria, Arizona, and on the campus of Parkview Randallia in Fort Wayne, Indiana, house signature programs in digital media arts and occupational therapy. In 2015, the University launched the Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies. Students studying agriculture are projected to be the largest group of incoming HU students in fall 2024.

The University also developed new opportunities through innovative partnerships and collaborations, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program with Ambassador Enterprises in 2018, an animal health and veterinary nursing concurrent dual-degree undergraduate program with Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2023, and an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) degree program with Indiana Tech and Parkview Health in 2023.

Emberton and the University’s Senior Leadership Team, faculty and staff have successfully engaged with two strategic plans, Faith Forward 2022 and Forever Foresters. Additionally, they completed the Step Forward comprehensive capital campaign in 2023. During that campaign, the University invested over $30 million in capital projects, including new spaces such as the Welcome Center, the Don Strauss Animal Science Education Center and the Ware Plant Science Production Facility; significant updates to Forest Glen Park and a 30,000-square-foot student center; and a complete renovation of the current athletic complex and wellness center. The campaign also secured $15 million in future gifts to the University.

The University’s endowment fund has grown 35% in the last decade through gifts and earnings. In 2024, the University underwent a successful accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission and was granted 10-year reaffirmation.

“The Huntington University Board of Trustees received Dr. Emberton’s announcement with great sadness,” said Monte Lightner, chair of the Board. “We are extremely thankful that HU has been blessed with Dr. Emberton’s leadership on campus and off and her representation of the University before stakeholders, funders and collaboration partners both within the community and beyond. She leaves HU with a strong enrollment, a beautiful and growing campus, new programs, fresh ideas and new collaboration partners. Her overarching love of God, high energy, winsomeness, joy and unwavering commitment to keep the HU campus Christ-centered will be missed but will constantly be reflected in the strong, God-loving and vibrant student body, the dedicated and talented faculty and the efficient and hardworking staff.

“We thank Dr. Emberton for her leadership, her friendship and her servant’s heart. We are all better for having had the opportunity to serve Christ with her.”

During her tenure as president of HU, Emberton chaired the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, was elected to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, where she served on the executive committee, chaired the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Crossroads League conference and served as a board member for Elevate Northeast Indiana.

Currently, she serves on the executive committees for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), AgriNovus Indiana and the Independent Colleges of Indiana. Dr. Emberton chairs the board of Lenawee Christian Ministries in Adrian, Michigan, and continues to serve on the board of the Regional Chamber of Northeast Indiana. Emberton also sits as an advisory member for the Doden Legacy Trust and the Fortitude Fund.

“Dr. Emberton is a CCCU board member and officer. She is wise, authentic, generous and one of the best partners the CCCU could have,” said Shirley Hoogstra, president of the CCCU. “Not only has she led Huntington with grace and grit, but she has volunteered for decades to make all of Christian higher education the best it can be. She brings laughter as well as truth to her service. I have watched and admired her interactions with students and colleagues. She loves people well. She has loved the CCCU well and me, too. I am a better leader because of her.”

For her service to higher education, Emberton was recognized as Alumna of the Year by Panola College in 2017 and as an outstanding alum in educational leadership by Texas A&M University-Commerce in 2018. Emberton is the thirteenth president of Huntington University and the first female president in the University’s history.

The Huntington University Board of Trustees has secured the services of a national executive search firm, CarterBaldwin Executive Search, to aid the Trustees in naming a new president before Emberton officially retires on May 31, 2025. Additional details regarding the timeline for the search and the process for nominations will be released later.