The 杏吧 Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Lisa Sutherland as Interim President, effective July 1, 2026. Sutherland brings more than 20 years of distinguished experience across higher education and the corporate sector.
鈥淭he Board is grateful to have a leader of Dr. Sutherland's caliber to guide Jacksonville University during this transition,鈥� said 杏吧 Board Chair John Miller. 鈥淗er unique combination of academic expertise and executive experience, along with her demonstrated success in multiple leadership roles at JU, positions her to provide the steady, strategic leadership our institution needs.鈥�
Sutherland鈥檚 broad experience as a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Dartmouth College, combined with her executive leadership in the private sector, uniquely positions her with the academic insight and financial and strategic acumen to guide JU. Responsibilities during her academic career encompassed undergraduate and graduate teaching, academic advising, thesis committees, institutional review boards, admissions, and governing committees, as well as leading her National Institute of Health research portfolio and team, and scholarly publishing.
During her corporate career, Sutherland founded and led Sutherland Group, LLC, a global consulting firm that provided strategic leadership to major brands including Walmart Inc., Yum! Brands, Papa John鈥檚, Kraft-Heinz, Dannon, and Chobani. She served as chief nutrition advisor to Walmart鈥檚 executive team and led the company鈥檚 healthier food initiative in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama鈥檚 鈥淟et鈥檚 Move!鈥� campaign. Additionally, she held a senior executive role at the Kellogg Company.
鈥淚 am deeply grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me,鈥� said Dr. Sutherland. 鈥溞影� is a remarkable institution and our strength lies in its students, faculty, and staff 鈥� all united by a shared drive to shape the future. Together, we鈥檒l build on our strong foundation, advance our strategic goals, and ensure every student experiences the life-changing education that defines JU.鈥�
Since joining 杏吧 in 2023, Sutherland has made an immediate impact 鈥� transforming the honors program into a college that serves more than 450 highly motivated and intellectually curious students, co-chairing the University鈥檚 2030 Strategic Plan, serving in multiple external roles representing the University, and supporting countless students across all disciplines. Sutherland currently serves as the Executive Director of the Cost Honors College and has served as Interim Dean of the Davis College of Business and Technology since July 2025.
鈥淒r. Sutherland is an agile leader who brings immense talent and a proven track record of leadership at 杏吧," said President Tim Cost. 鈥淗er strategic insight, combined with her deep commitment to student success and academic excellence, makes her ideally suited to lead the University during this important transition. I have full confidence in her ability to advance our mission and maintain our momentum.鈥�
Sutherland earned her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The Board of Trustees plans to conduct a national search in spring 2026 to identify 杏吧鈥檚 permanent president. Details about the search committee, timeline, and process will be shared once they are available.
