Molly McGehee has been appointed the next dean of Oxford College of Emory University effective July 1, 2026. She has served as interim dean since Nov. 1, 2025 and is a longtime faculty member and administrative leader at Oxford.
Badia Ahad, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, announced the appointment on May 5. “Dr. McGehee is exactly the right leader for Oxford College at this moment,” Ahad said. “Her genuine love for Oxford and its community is evident in the way she leads, and in the trust and momentum she has already built. I am thrilled to see her step into this role permanently.” Ahad also said, “She understands what makes Oxford extraordinary because she has spent more than a decade helping to cultivate it. Her vision for the college’s future is grounded in her deep relationships with faculty, staff and students, and that is exactly the kind of leadership Oxford deserves.”
As dean, McGehee will manage all academic and administrative functions at Oxford College, including advancing its strategic plan and supporting its community of about 1,000 first- and second-year undergraduates along with 81 full-time faculty members.
Interim President Leah Ward Sears commented on McGehee’s appointment: “Oxford College holds a special place in the history and future of Emory University, and Dr. McGehee is exactly the leader this moment calls for. Her strong connection to the Oxford community and her collaborative leadership will strengthen not just Oxford, but Emory as a whole as we continue to advance our collective mission of education, discovery and service.”
McGehee joined Oxford College in 2014 as an associate professor after earning master’s and PhD degrees from Emory University herself. Before becoming interim dean she was senior associate dean for academic affairs where she oversaw faculty development initiatives among other responsibilities.
Reflecting on her new role McGehee said: “Every position I have held — professor, associate dean, senior associate dean, interim dean — has provided preparation for this one… What has remained constant is my commitment to building something worthy of the people who make it possible: a college where students are both challenged and cared for…and where alumni lovingly look back…as the place that profoundly shaped them.”
