Dr. Mary Van Brunt arrived in January to take the helm as Spring Hill College’s 39th President. The first woman to hold the role, Van Brunt comes as the university is close to celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2030.

Van Brunt comes to Spring Hill from the Philadelphia area, where she served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Gwynedd Mercy University and founding dean of the School of Business, Arts and Media at Cabrini University. Van Brunt received her doctorate in economics from Lehigh University.

Here, she discusses the importance of Spring Hill College’s Jesuit mission, her goals for the college and how it fits into the landscape of Mobile.

Questions and answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

What drew you to Spring Hill College?