Andrew Westmoreland

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Andrew Westmoreland

Andrew Westmoreland (born 1957 in Batesville, Arkansas) is the 18th President of Samford University, having succeeded 23-year president Thomas Corts in 2006. He came to Samford from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he had been for his entire career and served as president since 1998.

Westmoreland grew up in a family headed by a Baptist preacher in Batesville where he became president of his high school's senior class. He attended Ouachita as a student, studying political science. After graduating he completed political internships in Little Rock and Washington D.C. before returning to teach at his alma mater. He later headed their development office, overseeing $160 million in fundraising for the school. Westmoreland's wife, Jeanna, was chair of the Arkansas State Board of Education and dean of Ouachita's College of Education.

He was contacted about the Samford job by a cold call from search committee co-chair (and former Alabama Governor) Albert Brewer and initially resisted the idea of changing jobs. Brewer hounded him to make a visit, after which he reconsidered and eventually determined to accept the new opportunity. While at Samford, Westmoreland oversaw a steady expansion of enrollment, academic programs, charitable donations and construction.

Westmoreland announced his retirement in 2020 and stepped down on June 30, 2021. He remained in Birmingham in retirement and continued to serve as part-time director of Samford's Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership for 2 years.

In December 2021, Samford renamed the University Center Annex Westmoreland Hall in honor of Westmoreland and his wife, Jeanna Westmoreland. The building had been renovated in 2019 to serve as the home of Samford's student affairs division.

Preceded by:
Thomas Corts
President of Samford University
20062021
Succeeded by:
Beck Taylor

References

  • Dean, Charles J. (March 24, 2006) "He lied. About praying. Still was hired: Next Samford president didn't want to move." The Birmingham News
  • Patchen, Tyler (August 28, 2020) "Samford president to retire in 2021." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Gainer, Holly (December 7, 2021) "Samford Celebrates Westmorelands, Stevens with Official Naming Dedications" Samford University press release.