Hamline University named a New York higher education leader and Twin Cities native as its 22nd president Wednesday during a campus forum in St. Paul.

Mayme Hostetter is the current president of the Relay Graduate School of Education, a private graduate school for teachers that is located in Manhattan and has a dozen locations around the U.S. and also offers online programs.

In its announcement, Hamline said that Hostetter was selected from more than 90 candidates and “brings a proven background of excellence in educating teachers and commitment to student success to Hamline, Minnesota’s first university and a regional leader in education.”

Hostetter attended Kenwood School in Minneapolis and St. Paul Academy. She then attended Harvard University, graduating with honors and captaining the women’s rowing team. She taught middle and high school English before earning a master of education at Harvard. She later earned a doctor of education from Columbia University.

In New York, she helped to found Hunter College’s “Teacher U,” which led to the 2011 creation of the Relay Graduate School of Education, which has roots in the charter school movement. Hostetter was named Relay’s president in 2018.

“I’ve known Hamline since I was a kid,” Hostetter said in Wednesday’s announcement. “I have always had great respect and admiration for Hamline’s role in the Twin Cities as an engine for socio-economic mobility, and as a place that connects college to career. Hamline also has an unbeatable longstanding commitment to inclusion and equity, which are values that are deeply important to me personally and professionally.”

Hostetter, who will assume her Hamline duties on July 1, succeeds Fayneese Miller, who retired last year. Kathleen Murray has been serving as acting/interim president.

Miller departed the private university after Hamline was embroiled in controversy when an art history professor was dismissed in 2023 after she showed a 14th century painting of the Prophet Muhammad to her class.

Citing the taboo of depicting the founder of Islam, a Muslim student objected to the university despite the instructor’s warnings and permission to opt out. In a vote, the Hamline faculty overwhelmingly called for Miller to resign. The professor later sued, and the litigation was privately settled last year.

“Dr. Hostetter brings the innovation and grit that we need right now at Hamline,” Doron Clark, chair of the Hamline Board of Trustees, said in Wednesday’s statement. “We are very impressed with her energy level, commitment to our values and the fresh ideas we know she will bring to Hamline.”

Added Hostetter:

“I had not looked at another job in 17 years because I am very proud of Relay, but Hamline is special,” she said. “Hamline is bringing me back home to the Twin Cities, and I feel at home among this community because our values align. Additionally, Hamline has made some really good and difficult decisions and, as a result, it is in a great spot to really flourish.”

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