Jayne Marie Comstock Named Winthrop's Tenth President

Selection of the Tenth President of Winthrop University

Winthrop University will be – and will be recognized as –
one of the best universities of its kind.

03/21/13

Dr. Jayne Marie Comstock will become the 10th President of Winthrop University, effective July 1, 2013. 

Comstock has extensive experience as a senior-level academic administrator and a national reputation in the area of higher education leadership.  Currently, she serves as the Director of the Executive Leadership Group for American Council on Education (ACE), in Washington D.C.  In this role, she prepares today’s leaders for tomorrow's challenges by designing, developing, and delivering executive leadership programs for college and university presidents, chief academic officers, and other senior campus leaders.

Comstock will replace Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio, who announced last year that he would retire from Winthrop in the summer of 2013 after a 24-year tenure.   When accepting the position, Comstock said "I am so very pleased and proud to have been selected as the next president of this fine University.  By building on the great progress led by President DiGiorgio, I pledge to energetically work with Winthrop faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends to ensure that Winthrop remains one of the best institutions of its kind."

A frequent presenter at higher education conferences and events, Comstock is recognized as a leading expert in strategic planning and institutional effectiveness.  She also brings a wealth of experience in promoting student retention and success, delivering academic programs that are both mission-driven and market-smart, directing campus activities to have local impact and global reach, and developing alternative sources of revenue to fund strategic goals.

An active and award-winning scholar throughout her career, Comstock has a distinguished publication record in the area of interpersonal communication in both personal and professional settings and on issues of import to higher education leadership. Her "QPC Model" is a broadly used, sophisticated structure for comprehensive academic program review involving an integrated analysis of program quality, potential, and cost.  She also authors the blog, Advancing the Higher Education Agenda.

A native of south-central Illinois, Comstock earned her Ph.D. in communication from the University of Arizona and holds bachelor’s and master's degrees in communication from Illinois State University, where she was named an "outstanding alumni".  She is a member of several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society.  Last year, she also was inducted into Phi Beta Delta in recognition for her achievement in expanding international education for each of the institutions she served. 

Prior to joining ACE, Comstock served as the chief academic officer at three different universities, most recently in the role of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN.  As Butler’s provost, she facilitated the campus-wide strategic planning process, co-chaired a facilities master planning process, conducted comprehensive program reviews, and inspired an entrepreneurial environment that encouraged the development of new academic programs, expanded international initiatives, and enhanced local partnerships, particularly with public schools. One of the most significant contributions during her time at Butler was the creation of a new College of Communication. Comstock also served as Butler's interim president during the summers of 2009 and 2011.

Earlier in her career, Comstock served as vice president for academic affairs at Millikin University (IL) and as vice president and dean of the college at Baker University (KS).  In addition, she held leadership positions in Saint Louis University's School for Professional Studies. Comstock first earned tenure and promotion at the University of West Florida (UWF), where she directed the Organizational Communication program and the Center for Leadership Development.

Throughout her thirty years in higher education, Comstock has embraced and advanced student-centered education that blends liberal arts, professional programs, engaged learning, global education, and civic involvement.  She was an early adopter of experiential learning and service learning pedagogies and received numerous teaching and advising awards in recognition of her innovative teaching style, engagement with students outside of class, service-learning initiatives, and for involving students in her research and consulting activities.

"First as a faculty member, then as an administrator, I have worked to produce the essential learning outcomes that promote student intellectual achievement and professional success, while at the same time engendering a sense of social responsibility, global awareness, and the capacity to lead", Comstock said. 

Even as a senior administrator, she continued to teach one class per year because, as she explained, “I am first and foremost and educator.  Teaching helps me stay in touch with students and reminds me that, when making decisions, our first consideration must always be what's best for students." 

Comstock brings to Winthrop a deep and abiding commitment to the University mission.  She expects to be a visionary and inspirational leader who will embrace and advance the University's Vision of Distinction, assure student success, and also secure additional resources.   She is known as a collaborative leader who invigorates connections across constituency groups, uplifts the voice of faculty, staff, and students in decision-making processes, and manifests an unflappable commitment to diversity and gender equity.

Community service and leadership has always been a part of Comstock's professional and personal lifestyle.  A sampling of her outreach activities includes board membership for Junior Achievement and the YMCA; active committee work for chambers of commerce,  pet shelters, economic development initiatives, and her church; and, various boards, commissions, and committees across the higher education landscape.

Comstock, her husband, Larry A. Williamson, and Cocoa, their 9-year-old Chesapeake retriever, will move to the Winthrop campus in Rock Hill, S.C., in June.  Williamson has an extensive background in higher education administration as a former Vice President for Advancement, Director of Government Relations, and Executive Director of a university foundation.  He has taught political science courses at several universities, has served on the staff of a US Congressman, and is a retired US Navy Captain.