About

An innovative educator and administrator, Jane K. Fernandes has served as president of Guilford College since 2014. In her leadership position with the Greensboro, North Carolina, school, Jane K. Fernandes manages a $42 million budget, oversees fundraising efforts, and ensures compliance with all NCAA Division III athletic standards.

Born deaf herself, Dr. Fernandes uses a combination of speech, speechreading, and American Sign Language to communicate. The recipient of a BA in comparative literature and French from Trinity College, she also holds an MA and a PhD in comparative literature from the University of Iowa. After receiving her doctorate, she served as director of the Northeastern University American Sign Language Program.

Dr. Fernandes has been widely recognized for her leadership. The Best Schools named her among its “Most Interesting College Presidents” in 2015. Her other professional accolades include the CARE Project Award for Resilience, the North Carolina Greater Federation of Women's Clubs Women of Achievement award, and the Tar Heel of the Week award. Additionally, in 2018, BuzzFeed recognized Jane K. Fernandes as a leader in honor of International Women's Day.