Krista L. Newkirk J.D.

Krista Newkirk is President of the University of Redlands, leading an institution that serves students across California with campuses in Redlands, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. She has successfully completed two mergers during her five years at the University of Redlands.  Most recently, she guided the successful merger with Woodbury University, expanding academic offerings and strengthening the University's presence throughout California.

Under her leadership, Redlands has advanced a vision centered on access, innovation, sustainability, and community impact. She has championed initiatives that strengthen connections between its campuses and the communities they serve, including investments in regional transit access, community-centered development, and partnerships that enhance the region’s educational, cultural, and economic vitality. Among her notable accomplishments is a major solar energy upgrade on the Redlands campus, which provides more than 30 percent of the campus's energy needs while advancing the institution's long-term sustainability goals.  Newkirk also led significant renovations to student residence halls, ensuring improved accessibility.

Recognizing the evolving needs of today's students and workforce, Newkirk has led the development of market-responsive academic programs and emerging technologies, strengthening Redlands' leadership in fields such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), where she added bachelor’s degree and executive master’s programs, Data Science, and Kinesiology, while expanding innovative learning opportunities through virtual and augmented reality.

Through the Core Four and expanded life skills training, Newkirk has strengthened the University's commitment to transformational experiential learning that connects students to meaningful career opportunities. She is also leading the University's strategic adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), advancing initiatives that enhance student support and expand opportunities for teaching and learning. Through institution-wide training and professional development, she is guiding efforts to build AI fluency among faculty and staff while thoughtfully and ethically integrating AI across the University's academic and operational landscape.

A dedicated advocate for educational access and affordability, Newkirk has also driven historic philanthropic success. She led the University's Forever Yours campaign, which raised a record $207.2 million, received approximately $11 million in federal and state appropriations, and continues to advance initiatives that expand opportunities for students while strengthening the institution's capacity to serve future generations. Newkirk also launched an office of sponsored programs to expand grant applications for federal and foundation support, and the University has seen a substantial increase in federal funding under her leadership.

Under Newkirk's leadership, the University has earned significant national recognition, including an invitation to join Colleges That Change Lives – one of only 45 institutions in the country to receive this designation – and a ranking among the top 15% of colleges in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. She has also overseen strategic growth in athletics, expanding opportunities for student-athletes by adding women's flag football and esports, with men's volleyball set to launch in 2027.

She serves on several national education boards, including the Public Policy Institute of California’s Higher Education Center Advisory Council, the Executive Committee of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), where she serves as Second Vice Chair, and as Chair of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Previously, she served on the Board and Tax Policy Committee of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), where she also chaired the Audit Committee.  She frequently presents at conferences nationwide on the dynamic evolution of higher education.