NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Many of these Westminster College students are meeting their new college president for the first time.

Kathy Richardson just started as Westminster's 15th president in early July. She's well aware that people are making light of her being the first woman president of the college and that sort of connects her with a certain politician running for U.S. President.

Richardson says she takes that precedent very seriously. “Being an example to our students, faculty and staff that a woman can move from being a very rookie college professor some decades ago through the ranks of faculty and then to administration and have the ability to become president and shape the future of the college that way.”

Richardson is from Georgia and taught journalism and communications courses there and in Oklahoma before becoming a college provost.

She says the history of Westminster was what first thing that attracted her to the position. “From the very first day, Westminster was open to not only men, which was the tradition at that point, but also to women and people of color. The first college in the country to be totally open and welcoming from day one,” she said.

Richardson says her plans for the college are to continue to strengthen its nationally recognized STEM program, but first she says she's just going to listen to the students and to the faculty.

“I bring to this job many decades of working in small colleges so I think I have a sense of what makes them successful and how to foster that, but it's helpful to listen to others before you throw your own agenda at them,” said Richardson.