Claremont Graduate University Executive Vice President and Provost Michelle Bligh, who arrived at CGU as an assistant professor of organizational behavior in 2002, has been named its interim president, effective March 1.

Current interim president Tim Kirley will step down after taking the position in June 2024.

Bligh holds “a deep understanding of the university’s culture, strengths, and challenges, having been a faculty member, dean, and provost,” CGU Board of Trustees Chair Jeanne Holm wrote in an email.

“I was honored and grateful — honestly overwhelmed by the board’s confidence and support,” Bligh wrote in a statement. “And as a member of our CGU community, I want to thank Tim Kirley for his tireless service to university, both as board member for 10 years and for his indispensable work as interim president. He took the reins at a really pivotal moment and in a very short time gained the trust and confidence of the campus community. He really conveyed that CGU is a wonderful place to work.”

Bligh will remain on the job until the board selects a permanent president.

“We’re going to work together to overcome challenges,” she added. “I’ve experienced a lot of great things and some not so great things in my 20-plus years at CGU. That experience, and my knowledge of the deep pool of intellectual capital here, give me confidence that despite the current uncertainty, our future is bright.”

Bligh, an alumna of Pomona College, said she will collaborate with the other six Claremont Colleges.

“I bring a deep respect and love for the consortium,” Bligh wrote. “And as we celebrate our centennial and the 100 years of the consortium, I’m very excited to be able to reimagine what the possibilities could be for the next 100 years. I believe that the consortium needs and must have graduate education as a core strength. It’s a vital part not only of its history but of its future.” Former CGU President Len Jessup retired in June 2024.