Brian T. Edwards, a Tulane University dean and Middle East studies scholar, will become Haverford College's 17th president on July 1, the college announced Monday, Oct. 19, as first reported by WHYY.
Edwards, 58, replaces outgoing President Wendy Raymond, who announced in November 2025 that she would retire in June 2027. The college described the search that produced his selection as the most extensive in its history, drawing input from more than 1,000 staff members, students, board members and alumni.
The pick matters locally. Haverford College is one of the township's largest employers, and its next leader will steer the roughly 1,460-student school through a period of national scrutiny over campus antisemitism.
"He has the experience and the deep commitment to the liberal arts we were looking for, but what really sets him apart is how well he understands what this place is all about: trust in our students, a commitment to ethical leadership, and the value we place on listening to one another," Board of Managers Chair Michael B. Kim said in a statement reported by the Inquirer.
Edwards has led Tulane's School of Liberal Arts since 2018. It is the largest of the university's nine schools. Before that, he spent 18 years at Northwestern University as a professor of Middle East studies, English and comparative literary studies. He also served as founding director of the program in Middle East and North African Studies, according to the Inquirer.
He holds a bachelor's degree in English and a doctorate in American studies, both from Yale University.
Edwards arrives at a campus navigating serious challenges. In August, Haverford settled a lawsuit filed by Jewish students and faculty who alleged the college had not done enough to protect them from antisemitic harassment, Higher Ed Dive reported. Under the settlement, the college agreed to bar discrimination against people with Zionist views, mandate annual antisemitism awareness training and establish an antisemitism committee to advise the president.
Raymond faced questioning by a Republican-led congressional committee over campus antisemitism complaints in May 2025, and the U.S. Department of Education later opened an investigation into the college, according to Higher Ed Dive.
Edwards told the Inquirer his approach to the issue would center on listening, respecting different voices and creating spaces for students, faculty and staff to talk openly.
Fundraising is also on his agenda. Haverford set a goal in 2024 of growing its endowment to $1 billion by 2030. As of Sept. 30, the endowment stood at $869 million, the Inquirer reported. Edwards said growing the endowment would allow the college to provide more financial aid.
His wife, Kate Baldwin, a professor of English, communication and gender and sexuality studies at Tulane, will join Haverford as a visiting professor. The couple has four children.
Edwards said he planned to begin meeting members of the Haverford community during the college's family and friends weekend, scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 19.
