About the President

Dr. Marvin Henberg became the 12th president of The College of Idaho in July 2009. He is a Wyoming native and son of an immigrant father and first-generation American mother.

His father had opportunity for only a grade-school education in his native Sweden and supported the family as a timber worker and railway fireman. Education was prized in the Henberg home and Dr. Henberg earned a full scholarship to Washington and Lee University. Thanks to faculty mentors who inspired hard work and high aims, he won a Rhodes Scholarship, Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and Danforth Fellowship – each opening further doors for his education.

Before coming to The C of I, Henberg was the interim president and chair and professor of the philosophy department at Linfield College, a liberal arts college in McMinnville, Ore. During his 15 years at Linfield, Henberg also served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.

Before Linfield, Henberg was at the University of Idaho in Moscow for 18 years and served as professor of philosophy, director of the University Honors program and chair of the philosophy department.

Henberg and his wife Laurie Henberg have been married 32 years and enjoy whitewater rafting, skiing (both cross-country and downhill) and hiking. He has run six marathons.

Henberg has received many grants awards and recognitions during his career and he believes in the value of a liberal arts education, which he learned as an undergraduate at Washington and Lee. He is also the recipient of numerous teaching awards.

“Whatever successes I have had in my teaching, I attribute them to my enthusiasm for making ideas come alive for students in the way my W&L mentors made them come alive for me,” he says.