Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D., announces retirement

By Staff Report, posted Feb 12, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

President Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D. - Photo provided by Methodist University

The Methodist University Board of Trustees announced today, Feb. 12, that Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden, Ph.D., will retire effective June 30, 2027.

Wearden, 72, will have served eight and a half years as president at MU and is announcing his retirement more than a year in advance to allow the Board ample time to actively plan for a transparent and stable succession.

“I am still enjoying the challenges and rewards of this work,” Wearden said in a statement to the MU community. “While I am still healthy and deeply committed to MU, it is nonetheless time for me to transition to a productive but less stressful retirement, with time for family, travel, adventure, and hobbies, while continuing to seek ways to make a meaningful contribution to the world.”

In his time at MU, Wearden has assembled a strong leadership team that, along with talented students, faculty, staff, alumni and a host of friends and partners of the University, has accomplished much in the past eight years.

Just a few of the many accomplishments include:

Improved student success, as measured by retention rate, persistence rate and graduation rate.
Building MU Online, with nearly 300 students in 30 programs that are perfect for working adults, active-duty soldiers, Veterans and their families.
Partnerships with six community colleges and creating/funding the A-to-B Scholarships for their graduates to attend MU, increasing our number of transfer students and improving affordability.
Years of effort, now coming to fruition with the opening of the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine. The agreement between MU and CFVH is structured to last and will continue to be binding for any future leaders of the two organizations. The school’s first class is scheduled to begin this summer (July) and is already elevating MU’s reputation both regionally and nationally.

“Dr. Wearden has certainly laid a strong foundation for Methodist University – and the community it serves – to flourish in the future,” said MU Board of Trustees Chair Tim Richardson in a press release. “He has been a consistent example of professionalism, wisdom, sound strategic planning, execution, and strength. Our University and community owe him an abundance of gratitude.”

Richardson said the Board will be sharing its next steps in the presidential search very soon, and Wearden is looking forward to building on the strong momentum the University has.

“I am excited about the next several months,” Wearden said in a press release. “We have a lot to do in that period, during which MU will continue moving toward an even higher level of excellence.”

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