The President of Bates College is the chief administrative officer of the college. Bates has had a president since it was chartered as a full college in 1864, and Oren Cheney held the title of 'Principal' during the Maine State Seminary years (1855-1864). To date, the list of Bates College presidents is as follows:
1864-1894 Oren Burbank Cheney
1894-1919 George Colby Chase
1920-1944 Clifton Daggett Gray
1944-1966 Charles Franklin Phillips
1966-1989 Thomas Hedley Reynolds
1989-2002 Donald West Harward
2002-2011 Elaine Tuttle Hansen
2011-2023 A. Clayton Spencer
2023-present Garry W. Jenkins