Andrew “Andy” McGadney is the 20th president of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He joined the College in July 2021.
A native of Connecticut, Andy McGadney earned his BA at Wesleyan University, majoring in Sociology and African American Studies. He later earned a Master of Public Administration and Policy from Columbia University and an EdD in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to his appointment at Knox College, he served as Vice President and Dean of Student Advancement at Colby College, following three years as Colby’s Vice President and Secretary of the College, a role that made him the principal liaison to the Board of Trustees. Prior to Colby he was Vice President for University Advancement at Clark University in Worcester, MA. In that role, McGadney led fundraising efforts and instituted new infrastructure to plan, launch, and execute a $125 million comprehensive campaign. He also led efforts to improve student and alumni affinity at Clark.
McGadney led the effort to develop a bold and ambitious framework for growth that culminated in a strategic planning framework endorsed by the Knox College Board of Trustees in the fall of 2022. McGadney has moved several major strategic initiatives forward including securing the lead gift for the Knight Living and Learning Center and upgrades to the College’s Green Oaks Biological Field Station. He also led the College through its first-ever credit rating, a major debt refinance, and the return to a primarily residential and in-person educational program following closure and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
McGadney continues to work to build and strengthen relationships with the Galesburg and local communities and prepared Knox for its first comprehensive fundraising campaign in over 20 years, Venture Boldly. The College is over 80 percent ($145-million) of the way to the $175-million Venture Boldly goal. In addition to Green Oaks, major campaign gifts have funded initiatives such as the Etz Family Institute for Civic Leadership and Dialogue, programming in the Bastian Family Center for Career Success, a $10-million renovation of the Umbeck Science Mathematics Center, endowed professorships and scholarships, as well as dramatic growth in the Knox Fund, Knox’s annual giving program.
Since 2021, McGadney has led the growth of the College’s enrollment, increased applications, and implemented several new scholarship programs, including the Prairie Promise which provides full tuition for eligible Illinois students. During his tenure he has supported the development of several plans to address the current and future needs of Knox students and the community including a Sustainability & Resiliency Plan, an accessibility study, an athletics masterplan, and a study and review of campus deferred maintenance.
President McGadney has served on several non-profit and community boards, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as an alumni trustee at his alma mater, Wesleyan University. He currently serves on the boards of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, CBI Bank & Trust in Galesburg, Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development and the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation.
McGadney and his wife Camille reside in Galesburg and have three children.
