Springfield, Ohio - Ingrid S. Stafford, an alumna of Wittenberg University and an executive of Northwestern University, is making history at her liberal arts alma mater in Springfield, Ohio. Stafford has recently been elected chair of Wittenberg University's 36-member board of directors, the first woman to occupy that post in the school's 157-year history. Stafford will preside for the first time as chair of the Wittenberg board at the Oct. 19-20 meeting.

She succeeds Robert C. James, a private business consultant in Dayton and former NCR Corporation vice president. James earned his degree at Wittenberg in 1965, served four years as head of the board and currently resides in Kettering.

"I am deeply honored to assume this responsibility of leading a very talented and committed Board of Directors in achieving a stronger and more distinguished Wittenberg," Stafford said. "We are blessed with excellent students, faculty, staff and administration dedicated to the vision of educating the 'whole person'."

Stafford has been a member of Wittenberg Board since 1993, serving on numerous committees and then as vice chair in 1997. She has been associate vice president for finance and controller at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., since July 1993. She received a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Wittenberg in 1975, a master's degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1976, and a master's degree in finance and not-for-profit management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1978.

Stafford has also contributed her service to other nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as chair of Leadership Evanston, a community-based leadership development program. She received the 2000 Community Leader of the Year Award from the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She has been recognized by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) for service to professional development in higher education finance.

Stafford and her husband, William'73, have two sons and reside in Evanston.

Wittenberg University, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, promotes a style of education that emphasizes high academic achievement, personal attention, and a faculty that is dedicated to teaching excellence. With more than 40 academic majors, over 100 campus organizations and 22 intercollegiate sports, students enjoy a dynamic learning environment dedicated to intellectual, spiritual, aesthetic, social and physical development.