Jeffrey Stein

A passionate advocate for education, inclusivity, and the power of engaged learning, Jeff Stein brings experience from across academic, student engagement, and administrative areas of university life.

During Stein’s tenure as Mary Baldwin University president, the institution advanced financial stability; secured significant philanthropic resources, redesigned the undergraduate experience through an innovative general education program and new academic/residential communities and pathways; established new processes for institutional effectiveness, campus-community engagement, and enrollment and brand strategy; and engaged campus and community stakeholders in developing the Elevate MBU strategic plan during a period of significant institutional transition. 

As Vice President for Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships and Assistant Professor of English at Elon, he led the community-wide development of the Boldly Elon strategic plan and its implementation. He oversaw Elon's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and worked closely with Cultural & Special Programs, ElonNext, Office of Leadership & Professional Development, Student Professional Development Center and worked with President Book on Athletics. From 2010-2018, he served as Chief of Staff for Presidents Leo Lambert and Connie Ledoux Book and as the Secretary to the Board of Trustees. Jeff served on the Board’s most recent Presidential Search Committee, presidential transition, and inauguration.

Before serving on the President’s cabinet, he led the design and development of both Elon’s award-winning residential campus initiative and the thriving Jewish life program. As Associate Dean of Students for Service-Learning, Multicultural Center, and Residence Life, he oversaw the enhancement of the Academic-Service Learning, Living Learning Community, and diversity education programs. In addition to study abroad courses, he has enjoyed teaching literature and creative writing through courses such as Literature on the Verge, In/Visible in America, Emerging Identities, and the Intermediate poetry workshop.

He has co-authored articles and chapters on building a residential campus, effective Student Affairs-Academic Affairs partnerships, creating a welcoming campus for diverse groups, developing a campus focus on multi-faith learning, and harnessing institutional leadership in support of diversity related strategic plans. He has also published poems in Third Coast, Diner, Heliotrope, New Delta Review, Phoebe, Many Mountains Moving, and others.

Prior to joining the Elon community in 2002, Jeff taught English at Colorado State University; worked in Student Affairs at Macalester College, Carleton College, and the University of Northern Colorado; and taught English at the American Institute of English in Korea. After mowing lawns, Jeff’s first job was at All Season Rental in Englewood, Colorado—where he learned the importance of customer service, knowing your tools, giving more than is expected, and learning from mistakes.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Beloit College (Phi Beta Kappa), a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Colorado State University. He completed his doctorate in Higher Education Management at the University of Georgia, writing his dissertation on the role of college presidents in shaping campus culture. Jeff and his wife Chrissy, who taught English at Elon and led the Writing Center and on-stop-shop Commons at Mary Baldwin University, have a daughter who graduated from Carleton College and a son who graduated from Wesleyan University.