Katie Callow-Wright named Princeton’s next executive vice president

Katie Callow-Wright, executive vice president of the University of Chicago, has been named Princeton’s next executive vice president, the University’s top non-academic post. Her appointment will take effect July 24. As Princeton’s chief administrative officer, she will provide overall leadership for the University’s campus planning, operations and infrastructure.

Callow-Wright was appointed Chicago’s executive vice president in 2020 after two decades of service there in other senior administrative roles.

She was recommended by Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber for the University’s executive vice president position following an international search process and approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees at their meeting Thursday, May 11.

“Katie Callow-Wright is a star,” Eisgruber said. “She is a proven leader with deep experience overseeing complex projects and tackling some of the most difficult challenges confronting higher education. Katie impressed all of us with her practical insight, strategic vision, collegial attitude, and enthusiasm for the mission and values that define this University. She will be an outstanding executive vice president, and I am delighted that she is joining our team at Princeton.”

Callow-Wright will fill the position vacated by Treby Williams, Class of 1984, who announced her retirement in January after nearly a decade as Princeton’s executive vice president and 18 years of service to the University. Williams will continue to serve as an adviser to the president through 2024.

As executive vice president, Callow-Wright will report to the president and have responsibility for nine operational units. She will work directly with the University’s senior officers to oversee Princeton’s financial, capital and operational resources, and to support the health, safety and well-being of the students, faculty and staff who live, learn and work at the University.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the next executive vice president of Princeton, joining President Eisgruber and the leadership team in advancing this extraordinary University’s ambitious plans for enabling students and faculty to address the challenges and opportunities facing humanity,” said Callow-Wright. “The departments that report to the EVP enjoy very strong leadership, and it is a privilege to support their continued exemplary service to the University.”  

In her current role at the University of Chicago, Callow-Wright is the principal representative of the president’s office, convening major planning efforts and programmatic initiatives that engage multiple administrative offices, senior university leaders and trustees.

Other senior roles in which she has served there include assistant vice president for campus life and assistant dean of the college from 2012-2014, chief of staff in the Office of the President from 2014-2015, vice president and chief of staff from 2015-2017, and vice president, secretary of the university and chief of staff from 2017-2020.

“Katie Callow-Wright has been an extraordinary leader at the University of Chicago and a deeply devoted citizen of our community,” said University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos. “Her humanity and capacious organizational creativity shone through during the pandemic when she did so much to guide the university. She has been a great aid to me in my transition back to UChicago. I’m excited that Katie has this great new opportunity at Princeton and wish her every success in this next adventure.”

Callow-Wright’s experience in higher education also includes previous appointments in student life at Baldwin Wallace College and Colorado College.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University and a master’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University.