Biography

Gary B. Crosby, Ph.D.

Saint Elizabeth University President

Gary B. Crosby, Ph.D.

Dr. Gary B. Crosby is a distinguished higher education leader with more than two decades of experience advancing student success, institutional excellence, and mission-driven innovation across both public and private universities. He currently serves as the eighth president of Saint Elizabeth University (SEU), having assumed the role on July 1, 2021. In this historic appointment, he became the first African American and the first male to lead the university since its founding.

Dr. Crosby's career reflects a steadfast commitment to educational equity, academic rigor, and transformative leadership. Prior to his presidency at SEU, he held senior leadership positions at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and Jackson State University, where he led strategic initiatives in student affairs, enrollment management, and institutional advancement. His tenure at both institutions was marked by a deep focus on expanding access, strengthening student support systems, and building sustainable community partnerships.

A respected scholar and thought leader, Dr. Crosby has written and spoken extensively on topics including higher education policy, urban planning, and institutional leadership. His research and practice have centered on the power of education as a vehicle for social mobility, particularly among historically underserved and marginalized populations. He has been recognized nationally for his contributions to inclusive excellence and his visionary approach to institutional transformation.

Dr. Crosby holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from The University of Southern Mississippi and both a master’s degree in political science and a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning from Jackson State University. A lifelong learner, he completed the prestigious American Council on Education (ACE) Fellowship at Rutgers University–Newark and earned a certificate in Educational Management from Harvard University. He is also an alumnus of the Millennium Leadership Initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), where he was selected as a Protégé in 2016.

A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dr. Crosby brings to his work a deep understanding of the transformative role higher education plays in the lives of students and communities. He and his wife, Larissia, are the proud parents of two daughters, Julia and Elise.