Lori Stewart Gonzalez

Lori Lee Stewart Gonzalez (née Stewart; born October 20, 1957) is an American speech pathologist and academic administrator serving as the 23rd president of Ohio University since 2023. She was the interim president of the University of Louisville from 2022 to 2023.

Early life and education Gonzalez was born the eldest of three daughters on October 20, 1957, in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, to Ruby Harmon and Wayne Stewart. She completed a B.A. in speech-pathology and audiology from the University of Kentucky. She earned a M.A. in communication disorders from Eastern Kentucky University. She served in the role until January 2023 when Kim Schatzel was hired. Her leadership took effect July 1, 2023 and included an original music composition by her son J. Clay Gonzalez entitled "Our Place."

During her first year helming the university, President Stewart Gonzalez launched several high-profile projects. First was a community-wide dynamic strategy planning process to garner insights from stakeholders on the university's future over the next six years, and she charged four working groups to synthesize the ideas into actionable change. She delivered maiden speeches and toured the facilities at each regionalized campus to promote a "one university" organizational model and strengthen bonds with each of their unique towns; and she instituted University Updates, a monthly announcement and forum session held at the Baker University Center to provide administrative insights and share in community dialogues. Her first year's efforts were favorable with the Board of Trustees, and they voted to give her a raise.