C-SC names Gaither as interim provost, vice president for academic affairs

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College, a private Christian liberal arts college offering 80 major and minor tracks, recently announced Kimberly Gaither will be the interim vice president of academic affairs.

Gaither will replace Lauren Schellenberger, who accepted the position of president at C-SC. Both begin their new roles on July 1, 2023.

Previously serving as the vice president of enrollment management, Gaither provided oversight for all recruitment and retention-based services, as well as marketing and financial aid. She has helped lead the institution in various roles for more than 20 years, serving in administrative roles and also as a long-time faculty member.  Gaither is active with the Higher Learning Commission, having served as a peer reviewer for many other colleges and universities since 2018. 

In a press release, Gaither said “As an alumnus, I owe a lot to Culver-Stockton College. I am honored to assist the college in this way as we navigate this exciting transition on ‘the Hill.’”

Schellenberger said the college will begin a national search for its next academic leader in the fall, but she is confident of Gaither’s ability to “sustain Culver-Stockton’s growth trajectory.”

“Kim is well-known for her administrative leadership on campus, her academic accomplishments and her understanding of higher education in a global sense,” the president-elect said. “With Kim’s leadership in academic affairs, we will continue to grow our programs and strengthen our offerings during this interim period.”

Gaither graduated from C-SC with a bachelor of science in business administration and finance before completing her MBA at Western Illinois University. She earned her doctorate in business administration from North Central University and specializes in financial management. A Canton native, she has been employed at Culver-Stockton since 2003.