Meet the President

Dr. Gene Crume

Dr. Gene C. Crume, Jr. was named Judson University’s sixth president in February 2013. Dr. Crume started his service at Judson in April 2013, and his formal installation as President was October 24, 2013.

Since arriving at Judson, Dr. Crume led the University through its first comprehensive strategic planning process. The Board of Trustees approved the plan, Shaping Our Future: The Strategic Plan for Judson University, 2014-2019, in February 2014. He has also helped secure $11.84 million in gifts from individual donors since arriving at Judson in support of the strategic plan. During his tenure, a half dozen new academic programs have been developed including RISE – Road to Independent Living, Spiritual Formation and Employment for differently abled students to obtain a college certificate. Judson has also launched men’s volleyball, football, and men’s and women’s bowling under Dr. Crume’s leadership.

Dr. Crume has served on the boards of several local and regional organizations. He is Vice Chair of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities, an advocacy organization that represents the public policy interests of Illinois’ non-profit colleges and universities. He is a board member for the Associated Colleges of Illinois, which supports liberal arts and sciences universities to help underserved students succeed in college and life. He is also a board member of the National Christian College Athletic Association. Within the Elgin community, Dr. Crume is a board member of the award winning Elgin Symphony Orchestra and has served on the board of the United Way of Elgin.

Dr. Crume spent a significant portion of his career at his alma mater, Western Kentucky University (WKU), where he served as the Executive Director of the WKU Alumni Association and taught as an adjunct instructor. His career also includes serving as Executive Vice President and Assistant Professor at Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) and President of the Indiana State University Foundation.

Dr. Crume grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Master’s degree in Communications from Western Kentucky University. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Education with a minor concentration in organizational leadership from the University of Virginia. Throughout his career he has served as an assistant professor or adjunct instructor for classes in business, public relations and communications at several institutions. He enjoys teaching one class each semester at Judson.

Dr. Crume is married to Cindy Smith Crume of Bowling Green, Kentucky, also a Western Kentucky University graduate. The Crumes’ daughter Allie and her husband Grant are educators in Atlanta, Georgia. Their son Gene III graduated from Judson in December of 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business and Entrepreneurship. He is currently enrolled in an Audio Engineering program with Judson partner Dark Horse Institute. He and his wife, former Judson student Mika Kleinkort, live in Franklin, Tennessee.