Dr. Michael S. Roth became the President of Connecticut’s Wesleyan University in 2007. In subsequent years, he has been at the forefront of those examining the purpose of and means by which higher education functions. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action decision in July 2023, he announced a suite of new recruiting efforts aimed at enhancing diverse campus interactions, including an end to admissions preference for legacy applicants. Roth has published three books examining university education, the most recent being “The Student, A Short History” (2023). His “Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters,” was recognized by the Association of American Colleges & Universities as the book best illuminating the goals and practices of a contemporary liberal education. Roth’s 2019 book, “Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist’s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness,” addresses some of the most contentious issues in American higher education, including affirmative action, safe spaces, and questions of free speech. Roth regularly publishes essays, book reviews, and commentaries in the national media and scholarly journals. He continues to teach undergraduate courses at Wesleyan and online. LEARN MORE
