Dr. Michael D. Shonrock

2015-2019

• Launched the university's Strategic Plan, "Real Experience. Real Success," including the Q2 Hospitality / Service Excellence Plan
• Initiated numerous enhancements to information technology, human resources, and facilities.
• Commenced the university's Main Street Welcome Center.

Dr. James D. Evans

2006-2015

• Launched Lindenwood’s first doctoral program.
• Established day college at Belleville, Ill., campus.
• Transitioned athletics to NCAA Division II.

Dennis Spellmann

1990-2006

• Enabled Lindenwood to become completely debt-free.
• Began an ambitious building program that continued after he passed away in 2006.
• Increased enrollment four-fold.

Dr. James I. Spainhower

1983-1988

• Served in the Missouri State Legislature and as Missouri state treasurer prior to his time at Lindenwood.
• Served as the first chairman of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund.
• Renewed Lindenwood's historic allegiance to Judeo-Christian values.

Dr. Robert Johns

1979-1982

• Applied conventional business model to help the college through rough financial times.

Dr. William Courtney Spencer

1974-1979

• Doubled enrollment to over 1,700 students during his tenure.
• Initiated graduate programs in business and teacher education.
• Started Lindenwood's College for Individualized Education.

Dr. John Anthony Brown

1966-1973

• Founded Lindenwood College for Men in 1969. 
• Convinced the Missouri State Legislature to provide state aid to students in private colleges for the first time in history.
• Changed Lindenwood from a women’s college to a coeducational institution.

Dr. Franc L. McCluer

1947-1966
1973-1974

• President of Westminister College in Fulton, Mo., when Winston Churchill gave his “Iron Curtain” Speech.
• Dr. McCluer’s nickname was "Bullet" due to his oratorical skill.

Dr. Harry Morehouse Gage

1941-1946

• Outspoken critic of Adolph Hitler before the United States entered World War II.
• Encouraged students to help with the war effort by raising money for a ship and a plane and conducting blood drives.

Rev. John Lincoln Roemer

1914-1940

• Refused the position of president three times before finally accepting.
• Greatly expanded enrollment and built six buildings during his presidency.

Rev. John Fenton Hendy

1913-1914

• Served as president of Oswego Women’s College in Oswego, Kan., for three years.
• Pastored in Jefferson City, Mo., and for many years was considered the most influential minister in Missouri’s capitol city.

Dr. George Frederick Ayres

1903-1913

• Received $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie to build Jubilee Hall in 1907 (renamed Ayres Hall in 1927).
• Died while president.

Dr. Matthew Howell Reaser

1898-1903

• Was president of Oswego College prior to his time at Lindenwood.
• Managed to increase enrollment substantially, reduce debt, and raise money for improvements.

Rev. William Sims Knight

1893-1898

• Founder of a college in Carthage, Mo., prior to coming to Lindenwood.

Rev. Robert Irwin

1880-1893

• Added the south wing to Sibley Hall in 1881 and the north wing in 1887.
• Established Lindenwood’s first gymnasium in 1890.

Mary E. Jewell

1876-1880

• Only other woman, besides Mary Sibley, to serve as president of Lindenwood.
• Very little is known of her, other than she later married A.S. Mermod.

Rev. J. Howard Nixon

1870-1876

• Served as pastor to U.S. President Benjamin Harrison when he lived in Indianapolis, Ind.

Professor French Strother

1866-1870

• Personally held a lease on Lindenwood College and spent a great deal of money on improvements.
• Southern sympathizer who lost a lawsuit over the control of Lindenwood to the Northern Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Thomas P. Barbour

1862-1865

• Convinced many parents that Lindenwood would be safe from the battles of the Civil War.
• Resigned because he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the United States during Reconstruction.

Rev. Addison Van Court  Schenck

1856-1862

• Son died in 1858 and was buried in the cemetery behind Lindenwood.
• Father-in-law led the daily services for Lindenwood’s students.

Mary Sibley

1832-1856

• Founded Lindenwood as a Presbyterian women’s college in 1832.
• Her father, Rufus Easton, was one of the first judges for the Missouri Territory.