Anne E. McCall serves as the 13th President of The College of Wooster and is a tenured Professor of French and Francophone Studies. She assumed the presidency on July 1, 2023, and was formally inaugurated on October 28, 2023. As the second woman to lead Wooster since its founding in 1866, she brings extensive academic leadership experience from previous roles as provost at Xavier University of Louisiana and deanships at Binghamton University, University of Denver, and Tulane University. Dr. McCall earned her bachelor's degree in French and German from the University of Virginia before pursuing graduate studies in France, where she earned both her master's and doctoral degrees in French literature from the Université Strasbourg. She has maintained a distinguished academic career alongside her administrative roles, remaining active in scholarship throughout her leadership positions. Her research focuses on nineteenth-century French fiction and life writing, with particular expertise in the works of George Sand. As a past-president of the George Sand Association, Dr. McCall has established herself as an internationally recognized scholar in this field. Her scholarly work explores epistolary literature, autobiography, and the intersection of legal and literary discourses in nineteenth-century France, examining how writers like George Sand challenged societal norms through their literary innovations. She has published extensively on George Sand's works, including a book titled 'De l'être en lettres. L'autobiographie épistolaire de George Sand' (1996) and is completing 'Arrested Memories: Letters, Law, and Literature in Nineteenth-Century France'. Dr. McCall's publications demonstrate a consistent scholarly trajectory examining narrative forms, particularly epistolary conventions, and their relationship to social structures. Her work shows increasing engagement with interdisciplinary approaches, connecting literary analysis with historical, legal, and gender studies frameworks. Over time, her research has expanded from focused textual analysis to more complex examinations of how literature interacts with broader cultural and institutional forces. While specific scientific awards aren't detailed in the available information, Dr. McCall's scholarly contributions have been recognized through her leadership positions in academic organizations and her invitation to present at international conferences. Her work has been published in prestigious journals and presses specializing in French literary studies. As an administrator, Dr. McCall has demonstrated exceptional skill in academic leadership, having overseen the creation of new core curricula and nearly two dozen degree programs at Xavier University. She has successfully secured funding from major foundations including Andrew W. Mellon, W.K. Kellogg, and Kresge, as well as federal agencies like NIH, Department of Education, and NSF. Her commitment to inclusive excellence is evident in her work establishing task forces on diversity, creating specialized courses on migrations and diasporas, and implementing initiatives to support underrepresented faculty. Dr. McCall serves as Chair of the Steering Committee for the U.S. section of Scholars at Risk, demonstrating her commitment to academic freedom globally. She has also been involved with the Center for Equity, Justice, and the Human Spirit at Xavier University and has led initiatives addressing systemic inequities in STEM fields, particularly focusing on female faculty of color. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes 'building innovation through inclusive excellence' and she is committed to nurturing environments conducive to global learning and intellectual freedom.
