Washington and Lee University President William C. Dudley will step down at the end of the academic year to become the next president of Claremont McKenna College in California, the university announced Thursday.
Dudley, who has led W&L since 2017, will begin his new role on July 1, 2026. In a message to the university community, he noted that the coming spring will mark his 10th commencement at W&L.
“I take pride in leaving Washington and Lee in a strong position,” Dudley wrote, adding that the university’s students, faculty and staff “will continue to advance our educational mission long after I am gone.”
W&L Rector Wali Bacdayan said the board of trustees will hire a nationally recognized search firm to assist in the process of selecting the university’s next president. He said the search will include opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni to offer input, with more details expected in the coming weeks.
Bacdayan praised Dudley’s nearly decade-long tenure.
“Will has been an exceptional leader for Washington and Lee,” he said. “From the moment he stepped on campus, he has exhibited a deep appreciation for W&L’s culture and distinctive strengths. Will is leaving W&L in a position of strength, and we are grateful for his dedication and service.”
During his presidency, the university launched a massive fundraising campaign, expanded need-blind undergraduate admissions through a $132 million gift, added several new academic programs and minors, and completed a series of major campus construction projects. Additional facilities, including a new admissions center and an expanded science center, are in planning stages.
Dudley came to W&L from Williams College, where he served as provost. A scholar of 19th-century German philosophy, he has continued to teach an annual seminar at W&L while serving as president.
“It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as the president,” he said in his announcement. “I treasure my relationships with W&L students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents.”
The university has not yet announced a timeline for naming his successor.
