College LeadershipPresident Garner

The college is under the leadership of President Leslie H. Garner Jr., a widely recognized expert in higher education, public policy, and leadership. President Garner holds Ph.D. and master’s degrees in public policy from Harvard University.

He serves on the boards of a number of organizations, including the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), the North Central Association's Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators (EIIA).

He is the former chair of both the ACM and the National Association of Independent Colleges of University (NAICU), both of which he has chaired. He has also headed the boards for the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar Rapids Symphony in recent years, in addition to a number of other civic and community leadership roles.

President Garner is the chief executive officer of the college and advisor to and agent of the 39-member board of trustees. As educational and administrative head, the president superintends the affairs of the college and executes the decisions of the board.

He previously served as president of North Carolina Wesleyan College before coming to Cornell College in August 1994.