College President Emerita, Dr. Elisabeth (Betsy) Muhlenfeld Wollan serves as interim CEO for The American Civil War Museum
Posted on February 13, 2020 by Dana Poleski
Dr. Elisabeth Muhlenfeld’s presidential portrait by Ying-He LiuSweet Briar College President Emerita, Dr. Elisabeth (Betsy) Muhlenfeld Wollan, is serving as interim CEO for The American Civil War Museum (ACWM). She began her position in January.
Wollan was a founding member of the American Civil War Center where she served as the Board Chair from 2009 to 2011. She is a current member of the ACWM Board of Directors and serves as chair of its collections, education, and programs committee.
Wollan was the ninth president of Sweet Briar College from 1996 until her retirement in 2009. Her strategic plan was a key proponent in bringing Sweet Briar many years of success and growth. During her time as president, she helped the College complete a $111 million capital campaign, add graduate, engineering and business programs, open The Florence Elston Inn & Conference Center, break ground on the 53,000-square-foot Fitness and Athletic Center, and transform many historical buildings and student common areas.
She is the author of many articles and essays, and has written four books under her professional name, Elisabeth Muhlenfeld. Some of her books include, “Mary Boykin Chesnut: A Biography” and “The Private Mary Chesnut: The Unpublished Civil War Diaries,” co-edited with C. Vann Woodward.
The former College president continues to take active roles on non-profit boards in performing arts, history and historic preservation.
