Statement & Video Message From The Acting President Dr. Monica Baloga: January 27, 2023

January 27, 2023

Limestone University Family:

I wanted to take a moment this afternoon to reach out during this time of transition to reassure our campus, alumni, and friends that Limestone, although we have much work to do, is well-positioned to successfully move forward. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve as the Acting President of our wonderful University, and I appreciate the trust and confidence of our Board of Trustees.

You have my commitment that this will be a collaborative effort and that Limestone will depend on each and every one of you to help bring greater stability to our campus and move us into our future with optimism and excitement. 

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to Limestone as we continue with our mission to achieve student success and academic excellence at this very special place. It is vital that we collectively pursue education excellence by uniquely providing our students with experiences that unite the advantages of a liberal arts institution with the strengths of being a comprehensive university.

Limestone has a strong foundation because of our exceptional students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters. Together we will continue forward with our strategic plan that includes a commitment to and belief in success, a transformation of expectations, and a focus on the future.

Our mission remains the same – to nurture our students in a supportive environment based on Christian ideals and ethical principles, and to challenge them to become critical thinkers and effective communicators who are prepared for responsible citizenship and successful careers. 

I appreciate this opportunity to work with all of you, and I can’t wait to see all we will accomplish together as One Limestone.

Thank you,

Dr. Monica Baloga

VIEW VIDEO MESSAGE HERE.

ABOUT THE ACTING PRESIDENT:

Dr. Monica Baloga is serving as the Acting President of Limestone University, in addition to her role as Provost.

Dr. Baloga became Limestone’s Provost in February of 2020, after leaving her previous position as Senior Vice President for Academic Administration at the Florida Institute of Technology, where she had served for 24 years. As Limestone’s Provost, Baloga has served as the chief academic officer with responsibility for planning, development, implementation, coordination, review, and administration of all academic programs and support services.

At her previous institution in Melbourne, FL, Dr. Baloga directed operations and activities of academic services and administration, including online and off campus education, graduate programs, international partnerships, student success units, honors college, the registrar, and the library. She also directed the development and implementation of academic policies, institutional research and effectiveness, assessment, and strategic planning.

From 2016-2019, Dr. Baloga held the title of Senior Vice President for Academics and Provost. She started at the Florida Institute of Technology in 1996 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Dr. Baloga became the Dean of Graduate Programs in 2012. She also served there as Accreditation Liaison, Assistant Provost for Accreditation & Assessment, Assistant Vice President for Instructional Compliance & International Programs, Vice President for Instructional Effectiveness & International Programs.

Dr. Baloga earned her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and worked as a Merck Postdoctoral Fellow while at Colorado State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she minored in Biology.

At Florida Institute of Technology, she chaired several committees, including Academic Panel, President’s Competency-Based Education Task Force, Quality of Life, Academic Program Assessment, and Administrative and Academic Program Assessment.

Dr. Baloga is a native of Camden, TN. She and her husband, Bruce Furrow, have a daughter, Abigail, who is a junior at Spartanburg High School. Dr. Baloga has seven brothers and sisters, including one sister who lives in Newberry, SC.