Historian and small-college leader to move into president’s house as part of two-year appointment beginning July 1
Mary Baldwin University has a new president — and he’s moving in.
The Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Dr. Gary Daynes as MBU’s 12th president with the title of Interim President and Chief Transformation Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Daynes and his wife, Kristine, will take up residence in the president’s house on MBU’s historic Staunton campus when he assumes the role, beginning their two-year tenure at the heart of the community they’ve committed to serve.
Daynes is a historian and educator who has spent his career at small, distinctive institutions — places where the relationship between student and faculty is close, where campus and community are intertwined, and where getting the mission right matters more than keeping pace with trends. He currently leads Salem Academy and College as its interim president, and is the author of How to Be a Small College, published earlier this year.
“Kristine and I are so pleased to be joining Mary Baldwin’s students, staff, faculty, and administration in Staunton,” Daynes said. “We’ve visited town several times over the years, and we are excited to become a full part of the community. I am excited also to join the important work that Mary Baldwin does, and to be part of the work that will ensure Mary Baldwin’s well-being long into the future.”
“Kristine and I are so pleased to be joining Mary Baldwin’s students, staff, faculty, and administration in Staunton.”
The selection followed a structured search led by a working group of the Board of Trustees. The group gathered input through a community stakeholder questionnaire, brought two finalists to campus for wide-ranging interviews, and made its recommendation based on both qualifications and fit.
“Dr. Gary Daynes will be a relatable and engaging leader for the MBU community. His stellar listening style puts people at ease, and his ability to create a sense of comfort encourages them to open up,” said Eloise Chandler ’77, co-chair of the MBU Board of Trustees.
“Mary Baldwin has a proud history of steadfast commitment to mission and the capacity for innovation,” said Constance Dierickx, who serves as co-chair of the Board with Chandler. “Dr. Daynes shares our commitment to meeting the needs of today’s students and an understanding that doing so requires innovative adaptation. We are grateful he has accepted our offer to join us at this consequential time, and the board stands fully behind him.
“Dr. Daynes comes to Mary Baldwin University with deep experience in small college leadership. The Board of Trustees enthusiastically welcomes him and is eager for the university and wider communities to get to know him, beginning this summer. Dr. Daynes is an experienced leader and sought-after advisor to small colleges having served as faculty, provost, interim president, and consultant. His breadth of experience is an asset that will serve Mary Baldwin well.”
Daynes’ background maps closely to the work ahead. As provost at Barton College for eight years, he built a shared academic vision, launched 11 new programs, and grew freshman enrollment by 25 percent. Through Back Porch Consulting, he has helped more than 20 independent colleges navigate strategy, finances, and mission. He has made civic engagement a defining feature of every position he has held — chairing community boards, co-leading economic development initiatives, and building partnerships that outlast any one appointment.
Kristine Daynes, an educational consultant whose work focuses on schools and nonprofits, will join him in Staunton. Kristine spent her career at 3M Health Information Systems before co-founding Back Porch Consulting with Gary in 2021. They have four adult children.
In his first weeks, Daynes will conduct a listening tour — meeting with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and Staunton neighbors. Details on listening sessions will be shared as July 1 approaches.