Skip navigationSearch or ask a questionCreateAvatar imageFinding Your Next Home Town with Bethany College President Laura Crawley | Rockar! Stockar! Kansas

3 days ago

2 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U72H3nfcJo4

Dr. Laura Crawley is the 16th president of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, bringing more than two decades of experience in higher education to the role. Her career has taken her through universities in Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina, where she has focused on student success, academic leadership, and building stronger connections between educational institutions and their communities. Before joining Bethany College in May 2025, Crawley served as vice president of mission, engagement, and innovation at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.

Crawley’s academic background includes a bachelor’s degree with honors in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, along with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from Emory University. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions at the University of Georgia and Georgia State University, helping expand academic programs, strengthen community partnerships, and create opportunities for students from a variety of backgrounds. Her work reflects a commitment to making higher education accessible, meaningful, and connected to the needs of the communities it serves.

Her journey to Kansas is also a story of curiosity, change, and finding a place to call home. After years of building her career in higher education, Crawley chose Lindsborg and Bethany College as the next chapter of her life. As president, she is focused on honoring the college’s longstanding traditions while exploring new ways for the institution to serve its students and community. Through her leadership, Crawley hopes to strengthen Bethany’s role in Lindsborg and demonstrate how small communities and colleges can make a lasting impact across Kansas. Click to expand