Emory Taps Leah Ward Sears as President, Marking Milestone in Leadership

Leah Ward Sears expressed deep gratitude and purpose in her new role as interim president of Emory University. Reflecting on her personal journey, she shared, “Leading Emory University as interim president feels profoundly meaningful to me.” Sears recalled how a scholarship to the Emory School of Law in 1977 changed the course of her life, opening doors that helped shape her successful legal and academic career. “My career path embodies my appreciation for that tremendous opportunity,” she noted. As the first Black woman to hold the position, Sears now sees this leadership role as a chance to pay it forward. She is committed to advancing Emory’s mission of transforming lives through education and equity. “I wholeheartedly embrace this position, looking to advance Emory’s mission of transforming lives, just as it has transformed mine and my family’s.” Her appointment marks a historic moment in Emory’s history and underscores its continued pursuit of inclusive excellence.