Jane K Fernandes

The ninth president of Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jane K. Fernandes is the first deaf woman to lead an American college or university. In her position with the independent liberal arts college, which was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1837, she heads the President’s Cabinet, manages a budget in excess of $42 million, and works to ensure the health and safety of campus facilities. Jane K. Fernandes also established the Guilford Edge initiative to develop strategies for improving enrollment and retention rates. Incorporating elements such as ethical leadership and career development, the Edge contributed to a 6 percent increase in first-to-second year retention in its first year.

A graduate of Trinity College, Jane K. Fernandes holds a bachelor of arts in comparative literature and French, along with a master of arts and a PhD in comparative literature from the University of Iowa. Before joining Guilford College, Dr. Fernandes served as provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs for the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she managed enrollment, professional development, and evaluations for more than 200 faculty.