Tori Murden McClure

President Tori Murden McClure, M.Div., J.D., M.F.A. became Spalding’s president in 2010, having also served previously as a vice president and trustee. She holds a bachelor’s from Smith College, a Master of Divinity from Harvard University, a law degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master of Fine Arts in writing degree from Spalding. She is the author of the memoir, A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean, which details her journey to become the first American to row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Taking lessons learned as an adventurer and explorer in Antarctica, Kenya, and the Atlantic, as well as working for the Mayor of Louisville and Muhammad Ali, President McClure leads Spalding through a collaborative leadership model that brings diverse voices and experiences together through the board of trustees, leadership team and faculty and staff committees.

President McClure is sought after as a speaker and presenter on a variety of topics, including religion and theology, leadership, higher education, adventure, and athleticism. Recent appearances include the Apostolic Congress on Mercy at the Vatican, Association of Governing Boards national conference, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and her annual appearance at all sites of the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program.