Wofford College President Nayef Samhat Plans Exit After 13 Years

Nayef Samhat, president of Wofford College, announced he will step down following the 2025-2026 academic year after 12 to 13 years of leadership. During his tenure, the college's endowment more than doubled to over $300 million, aided by a historic $150 million gift from alumnus Jerry Richardson. Samhat oversaw significant campus expansion with the construction of eight new facilities, including the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium and the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, as well as renovations of numerous buildings. Under his leadership, Wofford improved in academic rigor, student enrollment, and graduation rates, positioning the college strongly for future success. The college's board of trustees has initiated a national search for his successor. Samhat expressed deep personal connections to the Wofford community, describing his departure as leaving family behind.