President Emeritus Jake B. Schrum earned his B.A. in psychology from Southwestern University and his master of divinity degree from the Yale School of Divinity. He also attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Southwestern. He served as the president of Texas Wesleyan University for nine years prior to taking up the same position at Southwestern, where he would remain for 13 years.

During his time at Southwestern, Schrum led campaigns that raised an astounding $150 million for the University and established the Paideia® program. In 2009, he relocated the National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE) to Southwestern. In addition to his dedication to interdisciplinary learning, Shrum also helped the University make great strides toward becoming a greener campus. He signed the Talloires Declaration, a document dedicated to promoting sustainability in places of higher education, and the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. This emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency, and LEED-certified construction led to a reduction in the University’s carbon footprint. In 2010, Schrum signed an agreement with the city of Georgetown that allows all of Southwestern’s energy to come from wind power until 2028.

Since leaving Southwestern, Schrum has served as the 21st president of Emory & Henry College, in Virginia. He retired in April 2019 and lives with his wife, Jane, in Atlanta, Georgia.