On March 1, Delbarton alumnus Garry W. Jenkins ’88 was elected president of Bates College effective July 1, 2023. Since 2016, Jenkins has served as the dean of the University of Minnesota Law School. "Jenkins will be Bates’ ninth president since its 1855 founding and its first Black president. He will succeed Clayton Spencer, who has served as Bates’ president since July 2012," reported Bates College in its official announcement of Jenkins' new position.

Bates reported that Jenkins’ election followed an international search that began in July 2022 with the formation of a 19-member committee that conducted the search process. Coincidentally, fellow Delbarton alumnus and Bates College Dean of Admissions Darryl Uy ’95 was a committee member. After we posted news about Garry Jenkins' achievement on the Delbarton Instagram channel, Uy commented, “It was an honor to serve on the search committee that selected Garry Jenkins as Bates' next president. Go Green Wave!"

At a reception following the announcement, Delbarton alumni and current Bates College students Tim Butler ’21, on left below, and Austin Hurley ’22, on right, were two of the many Bates students, faculty, administrators and alumni to welcome Jenkins to campus in Lewiston, Maine.

The Delbarton community salutes Garry for this incredible achievement and wishes him the best of luck as he begins his new role this July as Bates College President.  Read the Bates College official announcement here.