Gundolf Graml has been named the new president of Ursinus College. (Photo courtesy of Ursinus College)
Following a successful period of interim leadership, the Ursinus College Board of Trustees has appointed Gundolf Graml, Ph.D., as the 20th president of Ursinus College, effective immediately.
Graml has served as interim president after serving as the senior academic administrator at Ursinus since 2024. The appointment reflects the board’s strong confidence in his leadership during the interim period and his vision for the college’s future, according to a press release announcing Graml’s appointment.
“President Graml has demonstrated the steady, collaborative leadership that Ursinus needs at this moment,” said Joseph M. DeSimone, chairman of the Ursinus College Board of Trustees. “The interim period provided clear evidence of his ability to lead with integrity, advance the college’s priorities, and build trust across the campus community. The board is confident in his ability to prepare the institution to emerge ready for a strong future accessible to future generations.”
During his interim presidency, Ursinus advanced key strategic priorities focused on academic innovation, student opportunity, and experiential learning.
Graml played a central role in successfully launching the APEX (Applied. Professional. Experiential) learning ecosystem, including the inaugural Experiential Learning Week, which expanded hands-on learning opportunities and strengthened career-connected experiences for students. He has also been instrumental in laying the groundwork for Go Global, a tuition-inclusive opportunity for students to travel nationally or internationally to explore professional pathways from a global perspective, to begin spring 2027.
Under his interim leadership, Ursinus also made significant progress on initiatives that support student success and institutional momentum, including investments in academic infrastructure, resulting in new majors in the health sciences and business departments, and expanded access programs, such as the America250 Tuition Promise for Montgomery County.
“I am honored by the board’s confidence and grateful for the support of the Ursinus community,” Graml said. “Ursinus is a remarkable institution with an enduring commitment to student success, personal transformation, and career readiness. I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen the college’s future and expand opportunities for our students.”
About Ursinus College
One of the nation’s “Colleges that Change Lives,” Ursinus College integrates academics with hands-on, real-world learning and career preparation through APEX, a learning ecosystem that prepares nimble professionals who emerge ready to thrive in their first job and in every job after. A top 100 national liberal arts college, Ursinus is noted in rankings for its return on investment, social mobility, and graduate success. Nestled on a picturesque, tree-lined, 170-acre campus just 25 miles from Philadelphia, Ursinus College offers an inspiring environment for experiential and global learning, personal growth, and career readiness.
