Dorothy Elliott Sample

Dorothy Elliott Sample served as the president of WMU from 1981 to 1986. A native of Alabama, but calling Flint, Michigan, her home at the time of the election, she became the first WMU president from outside the traditional southern territory of the SBC; the first in 82 years to have young children at home; the first in 87 years to be known by her own name; the youngest in 56 years.

Her education (two earned doctorates—a PhD and a ThD) and experience with technical and visual media made her exactly what WMU needed. Under her leadership, national WMU developed videotapes to promote and train, and bought its first computer. While president she traveled more that 1 million miles to give more than 1,500 speeches; and en route, as a trained psychologist, counseled all who crossed her path.