Salem Academy and College appoints Gary Daynes as interim president

Salem Academy and College’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of an interim president today. 

Gary Daynes will take over for Summer McGee, who is stepping down at the end of the month to become president of Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory. 

Daynes previously served as Salem’s chief enrollment officer and vice president for institutional effectiveness, among other roles.

He’s currently the founder and principal of Back Porch Consulting, an education firm that works with small institutions to build strategic plans for long-term sustainability. 

In a press release, Daynes said few institutions have "such a significant history" as Salem Academy and College. 

“I’ve had the honor to work with Salem’s faculty, staff, board, and alumnae over the past five years, and I am thrilled to join the Salem community as interim president, working to sustain and strengthen the institution during this time of transition,” he said in the release. 

As Daynes steps into his new role on July 1, officials say he’ll focus on continuing admissions growth, enhancing fundraising efforts and supporting Salem’s search for a permanent president.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.