Monmouth College Welcomes Dr. Patricia Draves as New President
By: Forgottonia Times™ Report
After a unanimous decision by the Monmouth College Board of Trustees, Dr. Patricia Draves has officially begun her tenure as the 15th president of the College. Selected from a competitive pool of candidates in a nationwide search, Draves returns to Monmouth with a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the community.
Draves, who most recently served as president of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa since 2017, brings over 30 years of experience in higher education to her new role. Her academic journey began with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, followed by a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her extensive career includes significant administrative roles, such as her time at the University of Central Arkansas.
This marks a return to familiar territory for Draves, who, along with her husband, Jeff, previously taught in Monmouth's chemistry department from 2002 to 2006. At a recent Rotary Club meeting at the Monmouth Country Club, Draves described the move back to Monmouth as a second homecoming. "It's the relationships," Draves explained when asked what she looked most forward to in her new role. "We have some lifelong friends here. This is our second homecoming." The couple's first "homecoming" involved their previous tenure at the College, during which time Jeff Draves, a Monmouth alum from the class of 1985, also reconnected with his alma mater.
Draves succeeds Clarence R. Wyatt, the College's 14th president, who has served since July 2014. Her appointment as president is not just a return to a beloved community but also a continuation of her dedication to shaping the future of higher education. In the College's official announcement of her presidency, Draves expressed her admiration for Monmouth's legacy of preparing students for impactful lives. "There are special places that prepare students for very meaningful careers and for rich lives to serve and to lead others. Monmouth College is one of those places," Draves said. "Monmouth graduates do wonderful and great things. Being selected to be part of the team that leads this College is such an honor. I'm excited about working with the Monmouth faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to move this outstanding College forward."
Returning to Monmouth was not solely motivated by personal connections. Draves highlighted the College's strong academic environment and dedicated community as significant factors in her decision. "Monmouth is a good college with good, smart people. There's good intellectual capital here, and there's a dedicated board of trustees and alumni board," Draves noted. "My job as a leader is to bring us all together. And number two is the students."
Draves also expressed her commitment to fostering community ties, a focus she developed during her tenure as vice president for academic affairs at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. "I brought that knowledge to Graceland and will absolutely bring that culture of connection and partnership here," Draves said, outlining one of her primary initiatives as Monmouth's new leader.
In addition to strengthening the College's community partnerships, Draves has set clear goals for her presidency, including increasing enrollment and clearly defining the unique aspects of a Monmouth education. "We want to focus on enrollment growth," she stated. "We want to be the college of choice in the region." Draves is also committed to highlighting what sets Monmouth apart, particularly in terms of internship opportunities and out-of-classroom experiences.
Draves' formal inauguration will occur during Monmouth College's Homecoming weekend, with a ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. on October 4 at Wallace Hall Plaza. This event will officially mark the beginning of her leadership as she embarks on her mission to guide Monmouth College into its next chapter, driven by a deep respect for the institution's past and an ambitious vision for its future.