A view of the Emory & Henry statues in front of Kelly Library

Our Mission

“Increase in Excellence,” the historic motto of Emory & Henry, expresses our intention to be a learning community that moves toward fulfilling every student’s potential.

Bishop John Emory, along with the founders of Methodism, symbolizes our belief in the union of faith and learning, while Governor Patrick Henry symbolizes our commitment to freedom and civic virtue.

Mission Statement

We affirm the Christian faith as our spiritual and moral heritage and encourage all our members to grow in faith as they grow in knowledge. We believe in the worth of each person’s religious and cultural heritage, inasmuch as that heritage leads to service to others in our region and the larger world.

We affirm the liberal arts as our intellectual foundation for undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and we believe that excellence results when everyone actively participates in the educational process. We challenge all persons to confront historical and contemporary ideas and issues and to develop the ability to think critically about all areas of human experience and to pursue research as appropriate.

These traditions provide the context for our pursuit of excellence, as we engage a diverse group of well-qualified persons in educational experiences that lead to lives of service, productive careers, and global citizenship.

Revised by the Emory & Henry College Community, Fall 2016.
Reaffirmed by the Emory & Henry College Board of Trustees, October 29, 2016.

A view of Emory & Henry community in the 1890s. The J. Stewart French House is on the right.
Before becoming the tranquil and iconic duck pond we see today, the springhouse seen here in the early 1900s, provided water for daily use . After World War II the springhouse was removed, and all that remains today is the original foundation.
The gates located next to the current duck pond were erected in 1921 and dedicated to the memory of Harry Clark William (’10), who was killed in battle just days before the end of World War I.
This banner over the main campus entrance was a gift from the class of 1956.
The Wiley Hall fire of 1928.
This photograph was taken of Byars Hall at Commencement on June 19th, 1889. This was the second Byars Hall that burned.
New pillars being added to the 1954 renovation of Byars Hall.
Miss Edith Waterhouse, daughter of President Richard Waterhouse, was the first woman graduate of Emory & Henry in 1907. She continued on to become the college’s first female faculty member as well.
During World War I, ROTC thrived on the Emory & Henry campus.
Go Wasps! Showing our Wasp pride way back when!
A glimpse back into Emory & Henry baseball team ca. 1915.
Football has been a staple in Emory & Henry’s history. Just take a look at the football team ca. 1890.

Photo Album: Looking Back

Information and historical images displayed on this page come from the publication Legacy & Vision: A Pictorial History of Emory & Henry College, published by the College in 2011. The hard-bound book is available at the Emory Mercantile, the E&H bookstore.

About News

<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/inauguration-of-lou-fincher"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.jpg" alt="President Lou Fincher shaking hands" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/17438_Inauguration_1.rev.1762962239.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/inauguration-of-lou-fincher">Emory & Henry University Celebrates the Inauguration of Its Twenty-Third President, Dr. A. Louise “Lou” Fincher</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry University celebrated the inauguration of its twenty-third president, Dr. A. Louise “Lou” Fincher, during a ceremony held Friday, Nov. 7 in the Woodrow W. McGlothlin Center for the Arts on the University’s historic Emory campus.</p><a href="/live/news/inauguration-of-lou-fincher" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/3641-emory-henry-moves-to-university-status-today"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry University" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1800/16146_EmoryHenryUniversity_2.rev.1722527816.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="1800" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/3641-emory-henry-moves-to-university-status-today">Emory & Henry Moves to University Status</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> The calendar month has flipped and so has the name of Emory & Henry College to Emory & Henry University. Celebrations and excitement will ensue once students and faculty get to campus with new University merchandise, giveaways, updated signage, and more.</p><a href="/live/news/3641-emory-henry-moves-to-university-status-today" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/4153-emory-henry-university-and-food-city-celebrate"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.jpg" alt="Food City Sports Complex Ribbon Cutting" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/672,0,2803,2134/17383_Food_City_Sports_Complex_RC.rev.1761591786.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2131" data-max-h="2134" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/4153-emory-henry-university-and-food-city-celebrate">Emory & Henry University and Food City Celebrate the Opening of the Food City Sports Complex</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> The New Sports Complex will Provide Opportunities for Regional Economic Development </p><a href="/live/news/4153-emory-henry-university-and-food-city-celebrate" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/3956-carter-to-lead-strategic-partnerships-at-emory-amp"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,330,366/17057_Dennis-Carter.rev.1746188473.webp 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,330,366/17057_Dennis-Carter.rev.1746188473.jpg 1x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,330,366/17057_Dennis-Carter.rev.1746188473.jpg" alt="Dennis Carter" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="330" data-max-h="366" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/3956-carter-to-lead-strategic-partnerships-at-emory-amp">Carter to Lead Strategic Partnerships at Emory & Henry University</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> The superintendent of Smyth County Schools, Dr. Dennis Carter, will join the executive team at Emory & Henry University in August to lead innovation and educational partnership development. </p><a href="/live/news/3956-carter-to-lead-strategic-partnerships-at-emory-amp" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-adds-new-members-to-the-board-of-trustees"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,940,788/17313_boilerplate_1.rev.1758656480.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,940,788/17313_boilerplate_1.rev.1758656480.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,940,788/17313_boilerplate_1.rev.1758656480.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry University" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,940,788/17313_boilerplate_1.rev.1758656480.jpg 2x" data-max-w="940" data-max-h="788" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-adds-new-members-to-the-board-of-trustees">Emory & Henry Adds New Members to the Board of Trustees</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry University is proud to announce the election of six distinguished individuals to its Board of Trustees.</p><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-adds-new-members-to-the-board-of-trustees" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-university-lowers-tuition-by-50-percent"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.jpg" alt="View of Emory & Henry University campus" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/17287_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_042_1.rev.1757679242.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="1798" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-university-lowers-tuition-by-50-percent">Emory & Henry University Lowers Tuition by 50% for Upcoming Year</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Change Underscores the University’s Commitment to Accessibility Amidst the Evolving World of Higher Education</p><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-university-lowers-tuition-by-50-percent" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-ranked-by-us-news-world-report"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry showed an impressive showing in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 Best Colleges rankings, earning the #27 spot i..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/90/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,1798/10506_Fall-Drone-11-3-21_088.rev.1637087509.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="1798" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-ranked-by-us-news-world-report">Emory & Henry ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Top University</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry University is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best regional universities, a best value school and a top performer on social mobility.</p><a href="/live/news/emory-henry-ranked-by-us-news-world-report" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/3845-emory-henry-university-selects-career-educator"><picture class="lw_image"><source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry proudly announces the selection of Dr. Louise Lou Fincher as its twenty-third president--and the first president of Emo..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1066,762/16041_LouFincher-horizontal.rev.1718032243.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1066" data-max-h="762" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/3845-emory-henry-university-selects-career-educator">Emory & Henry University Selects Career Educator and Healthcare Visionary, Dr. A. Louise Fincher, as its Twenty-Third President</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p> Emory & Henry proudly announces the selection of Dr. Louise “Lou” Fincher as its twenty third president—and the first president of Emory & Henry University, formerly Emory & Henry College.</p><a href="/live/news/3845-emory-henry-university-selects-career-educator" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>