Office of the President

Hampshire College Interim President Jennifer Chrisler has held multiple leadership positions in higher education. She was Hampshire’s chief advancement officer from 2019 to 2024, and during her tenure launched the largest major fundraising campaign in the College’s history as well as a strategic financial sustainability plan. In July 2024, she became vice president for institutional support, where she leads fundraising, alumni and family relations, enrollment, financial aid, marketing and communications, public relations, and event services.

Before joining Hampshire, she was vice chancellor for advancement at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and served as vice president of alumnae relations at her alma mater, Smith College.

Chrisler has been an advocate and frequent speaker on issues of LGBT equality. From 2005 to 2013, she led the Family Equality Council, a national nonprofit dedicated to securing equality for LGBT parents and their children. There she built a strong fundraising program, bringing in close to $3 million annually. As executive director, she worked in partnership with the board and the council’s development director to grow its major donor program and secure foundation grants and large corporate sponsors.

She is currently the chair of the board for Fenway Health, which advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education, centering LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, and other underserved communities.