Dr. Penny Elkins

Dr. Penny L. Elkins has built an over 30-year career leading teams and organizations across both P-12 and higher education. In October 2023 she was appointed Executive Vice President at Mercer. Dr. Elkins has previously served for 12 years as Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management, as well as Interim Provost. In her current role she leads cross-functional and interdisciplinary initiatives, including the University’s Center for Leadership, Ethics, and Service and the McDonald Center for the Advancement of Global Education. She holds the academic rank of Professor in Mercer’s Tift College of Education, and in 2007 she was appointed the Fred L. Miles Endowed Chair of Educational Leadership. She led the creation of the Department of Educational Leadership and the first doctoral program in the College of Education — the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Elkins holds both a bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude), with majors in Christianity and education, and a master’s degree in education from Mercer University. Her research interests include cognition theory in leadership, transformational leadership, birth-to-five education and early learning development, women in leadership, and community partnership development.