BELMONT — The Board of Trustees of Belmont Abbey College has appointed Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Retired), as the 21st president of the college.
“I am thrilled to announce Gen. Talley as the next president of Belmont Abbey College,” said Charles Cornelio, chair of the Belmont Abbey College Board of Trustees. “Jeff brings a vision and commitment that align deeply with the values and spirit of the Abbey. I am confident that under his leadership, Belmont Abbey will continue to flourish – academically, spiritually and as a community devoted to forming students in mind, body and soul. This is an exciting new chapter for the college as we look ahead to the next 150 years and beyond.”
Talley will assume the presidency on Jan. 2, 2026, and be formally inaugurated on Jan. 14. Following his inauguration, he will embark on a statewide and national tour to connect with alumni, donors and community partners.
The announcement comes after a seven-month search process that started when Dr. Bill Thierfelder’s retirement was announced following 20 years as president. The college established a 12-member presidential search committee who worked in partnership with Russell Reynolds Associates.
Talley combines experience in the academic and business worlds with a decorated 34-year active and reserve military career, culminating in his appointment as the 32nd Chief of Army Reserve & Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. He has received three Bronze Stars, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, and the Gold de Fleury Medal, which is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ highest individual honor. Talley has also been a Benedictine oblate for nearly 40 years.
As Abbot Placid, O.S.B., Chancellor of Belmont Abbey College, noted: “The selection of Jeff as our next president affirms the College’s enduring commitment to its Benedictine mission– to educate students in the fullness of truth and to foster a community rooted in faith and learning.”
That aligns with Talley’s incoming vision for Belmont Abbey College: “We have a unique opportunity to help young men and women get a rigorous academic experience in a faith-filled environment that’s strong in its Catholic identity, so they can go forth in a world that’s become so challenging, so complex, so difficult,” he said.
Talley holds a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, an executive MBA from the University of Oxford, and other graduate degrees in liberal arts, religious studies and applied sciences.
He has taught, conducted research, and offered academic leadership at the University of Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University and the University of Southern California.
After retiring from the military in 2016, Talley served as a vice president and Global Fellow at IBM, and founded an advisory firm focused on public private partnerships called the P3i Group.
Talley was born in St. Louis. He and his wife, Linda, recently relocated from Scottsdale, Arizona, to the Charlotte area. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.
More online
At www.belmontabbeycollege.edu/president: Learn more about Belmont Abbey’s new president.
“I believe God put me here for a reason,” says Elizabeth Jenkins, incoming principal of Our Lady of the Assumption School. Born in Miami to Cuban parents, Jenkins grew up speaking both English and Spanish in her multicultural home and now leads a diverse and growing school. (Brian Segovia) CHARLOTTE — “The best of both worlds” is the expression Elizabeth Jenkins, the incoming principal of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, uses to describe her Cuban-American upbringing. Born in Miami to Cuban parents, Jenkins grew up speaking both English and Spanish in her multicultural home.
“We grew up with some American customs, but many Cuban customs,” Jenkins said. “It’s something I consider important in my upbringing.”
From a young age, Jenkins knew her calling was to teach. At 16, she began working at a daycare after school, an experience that ignited her passion for education.
Her commitment led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and later a master’s degree in special education. She started her career by teaching kindergarten through fifth-grade students and teaching special education for students in grades K–8.
In 2007, she moved to Charlotte and joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), dedicating 14 years to the academic development of her students. In 2021, she took on the role of assistant principal at St. Gabriel Catholic School, an experience that prepared her for her next professional step: on July 1, she became principal at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School.
“I believe God put me here for a reason. I’m going to focus on today, on this school year, and on getting to know the children and families,” Jenkins commented.
The school is undergoing significant changes due to its growing diversity and increase in enrollment. While last year it had 213 students, that number has risen to 244. Dr. Greg Monroe, the diocese’s superintendent of schools, noted that the institution has experienced a transformation in recent years.
“Our region is growing,” Monroe explains. “As people move here, they look for vibrant and dynamic schools, and we’re proud to say that Our Lady of the Assumption is one of those top-tier institutions.”
Jenkins said her experience teaching in multilingual instruction schools, such as Collinswood Language Academy in CMS, helped her understand the importance of respecting global cultures and customs. It is the recognition of students with diverse backgrounds that, for her, will be key in this new chapter for the school.
“I noticed the importance of children being able to speak two languages and recognizing their own culture,” Jenkins said.
“In a school where many students speak different languages at home, the fact that she speaks more than one is undoubtedly a great added value,” Monroe said.
Jenkins says her knowledge of Spanish has opened doors with families. She has seen several Hispanic parents visibly relax when they find out she speaks their language.
With that cultural closeness, Jenkins starts the new school year ready to lead with faith and commitment.
“The happiness they show on their faces is something fundamental to me,” Jenkins said. “I truly believe that when a family feels that cultural connection, the experience of the children and parents becomes much more meaningful.”
— Brian Segovia