Dr. Dennis Stevens has assumed his role as interim president of Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC).

Stevens’ first day on the job was Monday.

According to H-SC’s Director of Marketing and Communications Thomas Shomo, “there will be no ceremony; this is all rather low key.”

In a September press release, former President Christopher B. Howard announced his departure from Hampden-Sydney College and his appointment as the new president of Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania.

Previously, Stevens served as provost and dean of faculty at Hampden-Sydney, which is one of the last remaining private all-male colleges in the United States.

“I am truly honored to serve as the interim president of Hampden-Sydney College, which I think is one of the finest colleges in the nation,” Stevens said.

After graduating from Kenyon College in Ohio, he went on to receive a doctorate from Boston College in

political science.

Stevens said he has taught for many years and published two books titled “Religion, Politics, and the Law” and “Challenges to Peace in the Middle East.”

“After many years of teaching, I moved to college administration,” Stevens said.

He has held administrative positions at Augustana College, Lake Erie College, the University of Findlay and Randolph College.

“My main interest outside of higher education is the martial arts. I am a fifth-degree black belt and a certified instructor and have taught the martial arts for over 20 years. I teach a non-credit self-defense course every semester at Hampden-Sydney and will continue to do that while serving as interim president.”

In order to prepare for his new position, Stevens said he worked closely with Howard and the college’s board of trustees.

The search for Hampden-Sydney’s 25th president is underway and the college’s board of trustees has set March 15 as a goal to elect its new president.

According to Shomo, Howard will be at Hampden-Sydney until Jan. 29.