Presidents and Chancellors of WCU
| 1888 - 1889 |  |
Thomas C. Buchanan | Principal |
| 1889 - 1912 |  |
Robert L. Madison | Principal, later President |
| 1912 - 1920 |  |
Alonzo C. Reynolds | President |
| 1920 - 1923 |  |
Robert L. Madison | President |
| 1923 - 1947 |  |
Hiram T. Hunter | President |
| 1947 - 1949 |  |
W. Ernest Bird | Acting President |
| 1949 - 1956 |  |
Paul A. Reid | President |
| 1956 - 1957 | |
W. Ernest Bird | President |
| 1957 - 1968 | |
Paul A. Reid | President |
| 1968 - 1972 |  |
Alexander S. Pow | President |
| 1972 |  |
Frank H. Brown, Jr. | Acting President |
| 1972 - 1973 |  |
Jack K. Carlton | Chancellor |
| 1973 |  |
W. Hugh McEniry | Acting Chancellor |
| 1974 | |
Frank H. Brown, Jr. | Acting Chancellor |
| 1974 - 1984 |  |
Harold F. Robinson | Chancellor |
| 1984 - 1994 |  |
Myron L. Coulter | Chancellor |
| 1994 - 1995 |  |
John H. Wakeley | |
| 1995 - Present |  |
John W. Bardo | Chancellor |
All images courtesy of Special Collections, Hunter Library Western Carolina University except for Thomas C. Buchanan, courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest.