Home » Bellarmine University names interim president

Bellarmine University names interim president

President Dr. Joseph J. McGowan died on March 1

Dr. Doris Tegart
Dr. Doris Tegart

LOUISVILLE (March 15, 2016) — Bellarmine University’s board of trustees has appointed Dr. Doris Tegart interim president, the university announced today.

Former president Dr. Joseph J. McGowan died on March 1. Tegart, the university’s executive vice president, will serve until a new president is selected through a national search.

“Bellarmine will continue on its current trajectory to become a nationally pre-eminent private university of significant size and stature for the great benefit of Louisville and this region,” board chair Pat Mulloy said. “Dr. Tegart is the board’s clear choice to make certain that momentum continues during this interim.”

In addition to her most recent position as Bellarmine’s executive vice president, Tegart’s nearly 25 years of service at the university have included roles as provost, senior vice president for academic affairs, vice presidencies for special projects and enrollment management, executive assistant to the president, associate provost, dean, department chair and professor.

As executive vice president, Tegart focused on implementing the university’s Vision 2020, which sets a broad vision for new schools, new majors, new buildings and new ways to serve Louisville and Kentucky. Vision 2020 has led to Bellarmine’s emergence as the premier independent Catholic university in the south, and thereby the leading private university in the commonwealth and region. Her work also focused on Bellarmine’s strategic plan themes of Catholic identity in the Merton spirit, excellence, internationalization and global sustainability.

“I am honored to serve as the interim leader at Bellarmine and I am especially honored to follow my mentor and friend, Dr. Joseph J. McGowan,” Tegart said. “I am committed to building on Dr. McGowan’s Vision 2020 and fulfilling the promise for the Bellarmine community.”

Tegart has also overseen the university’s market-focused approach to adding new programs and partnerships, including a master’s program in advanced analytics and an award-wining partnership with Eminence High School that brings their students to campus two days a week for college coursework. As provost, she was the university’s chief academic officer, with oversight of all academic programs, as well as the university’s student affairs, enrollment management, and communications and public affairs offices.

Tegart earned a doctorate in education, women’s studies and administration at Indiana University, Bloomington, and holds a leadership certificate from Harvard University’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. She earned her master’s degree in education from Indiana University Southeast, and she received a Master of Science in education from Indiana University Southeast, and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University.