Doris A. Tegart, Ed.D, was appointed to the position of interim president by the Bellarmine University Board of Trustees, after the death of the university’s president, Dr. Joseph J. McGowan on March 1, 2016.
During nearly 25 years at Bellarmine, Dr. Tegart has served as a professor, department chair, and dean, then honed her leadership skills through a variety of senior-level positions including vice president for academic affairs, vice president and executive assistant to the president, and vice president for enrollment management.
Additionally, Dr. Tegart coordinated student affairs, communications and public relations, instructional technology systems, strategic planning, and worked with seven academic schools.
As Dr. McGowan’s senior executive vice president, Dr. Tegart’s focus has been to implement entrepreneurial ventures and growth strategies to achieve the university’s goals under Vision 2020, which set 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.
Dr. Tegart received a doctorate from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, with concentrations in women’s studies/administration and a post-doctorate leadership certificate from Harvard University (MLE). She received a Master of Science in education from Indiana University Southeast and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University. She completed the Indiana University/Purdue University School of Philanthropy’s Fund Raising School Certificate Program. Dr. Tegart also participated in a yearlong introspective study titled the Vocation and the Presidency, a national program sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges.
Dr. Tegart was selected as one of the Most Admired Women in Education by Today’s Women Magazine in 2013; served as a board member of 55K Degrees; and developed a partnership with Eminence Independent Schools that resulted in a National School Board Award for Early College Entry Program in 2013.
Dr. Tegart is a creative, collaborative, and proactive leader — an open, transparent communicator with a sense of humor beloved by colleagues. Her expertise and skills are academic programming, enrollment growth, and fundraising.
In addition to a liberal arts philosophy, Dr. Tegart’s core belief is that a student-centered learning environment dedicated to providing academic and developmental growth is the key to a dynamic, holistic education for each student.