Alison Morrison-Shetlar

Alison Morrison-Shetlar is a Scottish academic administrator and marine molecular biologist. She served as the 11th president of the University of Lynchburg from 2020 until her retirement in 2026. Previously, she was the interim chancellor of Western Carolina University, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Elon University, and held administrative and faculty positions at the University of Central Florida and Georgia Southern University.

Early life and education Morrison-Shetlar was raised on the Isle of Bute in Scotland. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry and a doctorate in biomedical science from Dundee Institute of Technology. She conducted postdoctoral research in London. Her tenure began during the COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia, and her administration partnered with Centra Health to navigate health policies. During her presidency, the university faced a $12 million deficit, leading to program cuts and staff layoffs in May 2024. In December 2024, the university's accreditor issued a warning for non-compliance with standards related to financial responsibility and administrative effectiveness. In September 2025, she announced she would retire in June 2026 at the end of her second three-year contract.