Saundra Johnston Tracy, Ph.D. '68

2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement: School of Education & Human Services

A tireless advocate for student-centric leadership and a passionate lifelong learner, Saundra Johnston Tracy, Ph.D. '68 led a transformative era as president of Alma College. Tracy served as president in Alma, MI, for nine years, retiring in 2010. Alma College’s Board of Trustees unanimously selected her as the first female president in July 2001.

Tracy entered her tenure confronted with a college facing difficult times. Under her leadership, Alma College implemented a new mission statement with a focus on students, achieved enrollment growth with back-to-back record classes, launched the college’s largest-ever fundraising campaign that concluded ahead of schedule, adopted new general education requirements, enhanced marketing efforts, and developed the one-stop Student Services Center. In addition, she implemented numerous campus improvements while maintaining a balanced financial budget.

Before her presidency at Alma College commenced, Tracy served as vice president of academic affairs at Mount Union College. Her professional experience also includes roles as a professor of educational leadership and dean of education in various higher education institutions.

She also has numerous publications in the areas of leadership development and performance assessment. After retiring from Alma College, she worked for eight years as a consultant for AGB (Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges) Search, working with higher education institutions on executive searches.

She previously served on the board of trustees of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, was an American Council of Education Fellow, recently chaired the Presbyterian Church’s (USA) Committee on Theological Education, and has provided leadership in numerous professional and community organizations.

Tracy received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with minors in sociology and education from Carroll. Tracy went on to earn her Master of Education in foreign language instruction from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational administration from Purdue University.

She and her husband, Dr. Douglas Tracy '68, a retired Presbyterian minister and seminary professor, have been married 55 years and reside in Bloomington, Indiana. They have two adult children and five grandchildren.

Tracy enjoys hiking and gardening, volunteer service in the church and community, and knitting and weaving. She and Doug credit their professional successes and wonderful life together to their educational experiences and meeting at Carroll.