A LaGrange College leader who directed recent record fundraising campaigns has been named president of Centenary College of Louisiana.

David Rowe, 43, vice president of advancement since 2000, will assume leadership of the Shreveport school Aug. 1.

LaGrange College President Stuart Gulley said Rowe’s range of abilities led the Centenary presidential search committee to its decision.

“David’s background as a strategic thinker and visionary, engaging public speaker, gifted United Methodist clergyperson, accomplished fundraiser and incisive leader in matters related to sustainability proved to be very attractive to the search committee, which pursued him for this opportunity,” Gulley said.

“During David’s 10 years here, he led the development of a new visual identity program, strengthened our outreach to alumni with enhanced programming, radically restructured the Leadership Council, connected the college to the community and region through numerous external efforts, and guided us to annual fundraising records. Collectively, these efforts have aided in the growing reputation of LaGrange College and, most importantly, in the fulfillment of our mission and vision.”

Rowe also has been active in the community and region. He has been a member of the LaGrange Lions Club, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Troup, Leadership Georgia, the Board of Planning and Zoning Appeals for the city of LaGrange and the Troup County Regional Strategic Planning Team. He has traveled to numerous regional, national and international conferences to convey the college’s commitment to sustainability.

Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University, a master of divinity degree from Emory University and a certificate in ecumenical studies from the World Council of Churches and the University of Geneva. He earned a Ph.D. from Georgia State University.

He is married to Jodi Hyde Rowe, and they have two sons, Carter and Philip.

Before joining LaGrange College, Rowe held administrative posts at Wesleyan College, Oxford College of Emory University and Candler School of Theology at Emory.

A national liberal arts college with nearly 1,000 students, Centenary is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South and is regarded as the premier private liberal arts and sciences college in Louisiana.