President's Message

In a complex world full of unique individuals and thousands of paths for each to take, a select group of servant leaders committed to making a positive impact on the world join together at this University in a fellowship of learning, teaching and serving.

Together, we bring to life the University's important mission of inspiring and challenging every undergraduate and graduate student to a life of leadership and purpose for the glory of God.

Serving as educators, facilitators, motivators and mentors, Waynesburg University faculty and staff nurture and challenge the spirit of our students and guide them on their journey to become world changers, discoverers and explorers, as well as curators and stewards of God's kingdom. Our rich history reflects that Waynesburg University students have been catalysts for positive change and models for exceptional bravery and honor since the University's founding in 1849.

This is why I am proud and honored to serve as Waynesburg University's President. Staying the course charted by Waynesburg University founders, President and Mrs. Thyreen led the institution in a spiritual regeneration, guiding the University to new prominence in Christian higher education. The work and profound dedication of the Thyreens has been an inspiration to me as I serve as President.

My wife, Kathryn, and I remain committed to preserving the University's traditions of academic excellence and steadfast faith to withstand a changing world. Likewise, I pledge to encourage our students and alumni to positively influence change in the world through making ethical decisions and living lives of integrity.

I believe that we as Christians have the unique and God-given ability to define what we do in a way that can be a very compelling witness to the true nature of our Lord, Jesus Christ. As President, I have the privilege and responsibility of continuing the leadership of Waynesburg University toward that purpose.

Douglas G. Lee
President

About our President

Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee joined Waynesburg University as Executive Vice President in October 2009, working closely with then President Timothy Thyreen. He was unanimously elected President of the University by the Board of Trustees in September 2012 and took office July 1, 2013.

Under President Lee’s leadership, Waynesburg University has continued to grow amid a changing higher education landscape. The University is frequently recognized for its value, outcomes and award-winning entrepreneurial leadership program, and new construction and renovations continually enhance campus, providing the best possible experiences for students.

During Lee’s presidency, the University has focused on growing programs that equip graduates with the versatility and career readiness to thrive in an ever-changing world. These include the Stover Center for Constitutional Studies and Moral Leadership; the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership; the Pathways Center, which offers integrated and comprehensive support for student success; and the University’s Achievement Academy, which enrolls local high school students in college courses on campus.

Under President Lee’s guidance, renovations and new construction on campus have supported the success of both new and existing programs and have enriched the overall student experience. Since 2020, the University has executed almost $30 million in campus improvements, with more than 50 percent being funded by donors.

Recent campus updates include the new construction of the Center for Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation; the full renovation of the lowest level of Eberly Library to house the Pathways Center; renovations within the Stover Campus Center to build a new state-of-the-art innovation space, the eHIVE; the addition of an Esports Arena in Buhl Hall; and extensive updates and renovations to athletic facilities.

The student dining experience has also been enhanced under his leadership, with recent renovations to Benedum Dining Hall and the 2021 addition of a Chick-fil-A, strategically located on the edge of campus to connect with downtown and invite community access.

Previously, Lee led the $23 million revitalization of the Paul R. Stewart Science Hall, a major renovation project that overhauled the interior of the building and updated its exterior to match the overall architectural context of the University’s campus.

President Lee has also served as a leader in multiple facets within higher education since becoming president of Waynesburg University.

He was recently elected to a new statewide leadership role as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), effective July 2025. He has served AICUP in various capacities during his presidency, including chairing the AICUP Member Services Committee for two years and serving as the Board’s vice chair and secretary/treasurer.

He was also appointed to the NCAA Division III Board of Governors in 2023 and has served as the Chair of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Presidents’ Council.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the University developed and implemented a health and safety plan that allowed for the successful completion of the 20-21 academic year in-person and on-campus without layoffs or reduction in benefits to any employees. 

In 2023, Lee was a recipient of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Service Award. In 2022, he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and received a peer-reviewed "Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards" from Martindale Hubbell. He was selected as an awardee of the Pittsburgh Business Times Outstanding CEOs and Top Executives in 2017.

He was a co-recipient of the Southpointe CEO Association’s 2016 World Class CEO Award, and in 2015, he was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) General Greene District of the Laurel Highlands Council's Good Citizen Award. In 2013, he was named to The Pennsylvania Business Central's Top 100 People list and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, having spoken and written extensively on workers' compensation and labor and employment law topics.

The Charleroi, Pa., native and son of the late Gilbert G. Lee Jr. and Donna Duvall Lee is a 1977 graduate of Charleroi Area High School and a 1981 graduate of Waynesburg University. After graduation, he formed a multi-line insurance business, building the business while also attending law school. Lee sold the business upon graduation from law school and joined the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson. He became a partner in the firm in 1998 and managed a practice group consisting of nine attorneys and 15 paralegals.

During this time, he remained active at Waynesburg University and was instrumental in the formation of the University's Alumni Council. Dedicated to his alma mater, Lee served as a member of the Board of Trustees including Chair of the Academic Matters Committee and Board Secretary.

He is an elder at the Presbyterian Church, has served on the Greene County Planning Commission and is a graduate of Leadership West Virginia. He is an Eagle Scout, has served on the Executive Board for the Mountaineer Area Council Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the Fort Jackson Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.

Lee has served on the Board of Directors for the Union Rescue Mission in Fairmont, W.Va., the Harrison County Bar Association Board of Directors, the Westminster Foundation of West Virginia and the Howe Cemetery Board. He was a volunteer fireman for more than 13 years.

An endurance athlete, Lee is a finisher of three Ironman Triathlons and six marathons, including the Marine Corps Marathon and Death Valley Marathon.

He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathryn, and they have two children and two grandchildren.