Dr. Michael D. Shonrock
2015-2019
- Launched the university's Strategic Plan, "Real Experience. Real Success," including the Q2 Hospitality / Service Excellence Plan
- Initiated numerous enhancements to information technology, human resources, and facilities.
- Commenced the university's Main Street Welcome Center.
Dr. James D. Evans
2006-2015
- Launched Lindenwood’s first doctoral program.
- Established day college at Belleville, Ill., campus.
- Transitioned athletics to NCAA Division II.
Dennis Spellmann
1990-2006
- Enabled Lindenwood to become completely debt-free.
- Began an ambitious building program that continued after he passed away in 2006.
- Increased enrollment four-fold.
Dr. James I. Spainhower
1983-1988
- Served in the Missouri State Legislature and as Missouri state treasurer prior to his time at Lindenwood.
- Served as the first chairman of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund.
- Renewed Lindenwood's historic allegiance to Judeo-Christian values.
Dr. Robert Johns
1979-1982
- Applied conventional business model to help the college through rough financial times.
Dr. William Courtney Spencer
1974-1979
- Doubled enrollment to over 1,700 students during his tenure.
- Initiated graduate programs in business and teacher education.
- Started Lindenwood's College for Individualized Education.
Dr. John Anthony Brown
1966-1973
- Founded Lindenwood College for Men in 1969.
- Convinced the Missouri State Legislature to provide state aid to students in private colleges for the first time in history.
- Changed Lindenwood from a women’s college to a coeducational institution.
Dr. Franc L. McCluer
1947-1966
1973-1974
- President of Westminister College in Fulton, Mo., when Winston Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” Speech.
- Dr. McCluer’s nickname was "Bullet" due to his oratorical skill.
Dr. Harry Morehouse Gage
1941-1946
- Outspoken critic of Adolph Hitler before the United States entered World War II.
- Encouraged students to help with the war effort by raising money for a ship and a plane and conducting blood drives.
Rev. John Lincoln Roemer
1914-1940
- Refused the position of president three times before finally accepting.
- Greatly expanded enrollment and built six buildings during his presidency.
Rev. John Fenton Hendy
1913-1914
- Served as president of Oswego Women’s College in Oswego, Kan., for three years.
- Pastored in Jefferson City, Mo., and for many years was considered the most influential minister in Missouri’s capitol city.
Dr. George Frederick Ayres
1903-1913
- Received $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie to build Jubilee Hall in 1907 (renamed Ayres Hall in 1927).
- Died while president.
Dr. Matthew Howell Reaser
1898-1903
- Was president of Oswego College prior to his time at Lindenwood.
- Managed to increase enrollment substantially, reduce debt, and raise money for improvements.
Rev. William Sims Knight
1893-1898
- Founder of a college in Carthage, Mo., prior to coming to Lindenwood.
Rev. Robert Irwin
1880-1893
- Added the south wing to Sibley Hall in 1881 and the north wing in 1887.
- Established Lindenwood’s first gymnasium in 1890.
Mary E. Jewell
1876-1880
- Only other woman, besides Mary Sibley, to serve as president of Lindenwood.
- Very little is known of her, other than she later married A.S. Mermod.
Rev. J. Howard Nixon
1870-1876
- Served as pastor to U.S. President Benjamin Harrison when he lived in Indianapolis, Ind.
Professor French Strother
1866-1870
- Personally held a lease on Lindenwood College and spent a great deal of money on improvements.
- Southern sympathizer who lost a lawsuit over the control of Lindenwood to the Northern Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Thomas P. Barbour
1862-1865
- Convinced many parents that Lindenwood would be safe from the battles of the Civil War.
- Resigned because he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the United States during Reconstruction.
Rev. Addison Van Court Schenck
1856-1862
- Son died in 1858 and was buried in the cemetery behind Lindenwood.
- Father-in-law led the daily services for Lindenwood’s students.
Mary Sibley
1832-1856
- Founded Lindenwood as a Presbyterian women’s college in 1832.
- Her father, Rufus Easton, was one of the first judges for the Missouri Territory.