Sherman, Texas -- Dr. Rebecca Cantor officially stepped into the role of President of Austin College and started work on July 1, 2026.
In her first weeks, President Cantor has launched a listening tour to learn more about various departments and staff on campus. While many of the College’s academic departments are on summer break, a July start has allowed President Cantor to schedule in-depth conversations with those departments who are active in the summer, such as the Master of Medical Science - Physician Assistant program, who just welcomed their third cohort of new students at the Health Campus in June. The listening tour will continue in August as staff and faculty return from summer break and throughout the fall term.
The listening tour will not only introduce President Cantor to faculty, staff, and students, but is also an early phase of a strategic planning process that will be the hallmark of Cantor’s first year as Austin College President.
"I've loved connecting with our incredible teams in their spaces across campus and hearing first-hand about the opportunities they see. It is evident that our faculty and staff care deeply about our students and their success, and I'm so excited to be a part of this important work," said Cantor.
Cantor was named to the Presidency by the Austin College Board of Trustees in December 2025 and visited campus for an introduction in February 2026. The strategic planning process was soft-launched in spring 2026 under the direction of Dr. Beth Gill, Vice President for Academic Affairs, through a series of information-gathering surveys in preparation for President Cantor’s arrival.
Prior to coming to Austin College, Cantor served as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer for Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. As Provost, her leadership portfolio included academics, the library, career and advising services, international studies, and several other areas. She has further held roles including Chair of the Department of Liberal Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design and Assistant Provost and Writing Program Administrator at Azusa Pacific University, and has provided leadership in areas of student affairs, campus safety, admissions, and athletics. Her vast experience across higher education includes success in development, institutional effectiveness, student success and retention, and strategic planning.
Although the inauguration ceremony for President Cantor is planned for November 13, 2026, she’s already active and hard at work in the role of Austin College President.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
