CHATHAM UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RHONDA PHILLIPS IS DEPARTING AT THE END OF MAY. | PHOTO COURTESY CHATHAM UNIVERSITY

Just two years after taking the helm as Chatham University’s 20th president, Rhonda Phillips is leaving the small private school to become president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the National Public Honors College.

She will be replaced by Lisa Lambert, Chatham’s current provost and vice president of academic affairs, as interim president on June 1.

Phillips came on board as the 2,300-student university was facing a $8 million to $12 million deficit. With a background in economic development, she oversaw a campus-wide reorganization that eliminated 8% of staff positions, consolidated four departments into one and restructured the school’s leadership team.

“Over the past two years, President Phillips, Dr. Lambert, the Trustees, and university leadership have collaborated to move Chatham forward on many key initiatives,” Kent McElhattan, chair of Chatham’s Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “When combined with Lisa’s knowledge and relationships built over 40 years at Chatham, we expect a smooth transition and continued progress on the accomplishments of President Phillips’ tenure.”

He credited Phillips’ leadership in the launch of the new School of Business & Enterprise, renovations to the school’s Shadyside campus, NCAA athletic expansion, new academic curriculum enhancements and programs and significant increase in fundraising efforts that has helped put the university on steady financial footing.

Lambert joined Chatham in 1985 as a biology faculty member. She has also served as chair of the science department, founding program director for MS Biology, associate dean for academic affairs and assistant vice president of undergraduate learning before taking the role of provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Chatham’s main campus is in Shadyside. At Chatham Eastside in the East End, it offers health science, interior architecture programs, the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Center. Its Eden Hall Campus in Richland is home to its  sustainability and environmental programs, food studies and more. Founded as Pennsylvania Female College in 1869, it began enrolling men as undergraduate students in 2015.