The Wofford College Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint John Paul "Jay" Dowd III, Ph.D., as the school's 12th president.
Dowd will take over for current President Nayef Samhat who announced last May that he will step down at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year, concluding a 13-year tenure at the institution.
Dowd, a Bennettsville native, has more than three decades of experience in higher education strategy, fundraising, institutional advancement, and executive leadership.
He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of The Citadel Foundation, a position he has held since 2013. There, Dowd leads a team focused on securing funding to support The Citadel’s strategic priorities.
Earlier in his career, Dowd served as vice president for development and executive director of the Francis Marion University Education Foundation. His tenure at Wofford College will begin July 1.