Jim Reynolds assumes interim presidency at Wilmington College
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For the first time in the past 16 years, a different person is sitting behind the president’s desk in College Hall’s Room 200.
Jim Reynolds assumed the interim presidency at Wilmington College Monday (Aug. 1).
He succeeds Dan DiBiasio, WC’s second longest serving president, who has moved to Ada, Ohio, where he became Ohio Northern University’s new president, also on Aug. 1.
Reynolds served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty since coming to WC in 2007.
Immediately following DiBiasio’s announcement in February, the Board of Trustees tabbed Reynolds to serve as president during the interim period until a permanent president is selected and assumes office. With the search process well underway, the College anticipates the new president will be in office next July 1.
Board chair Sidney Mishkin said having an interim president that knows the College so well will facilitate the institution “continuing to move forward with great momentum.”
“Jim possesses a comprehensive view of the College that complements his position in academic leadership, and he worked closely with Dan on a number of campus-wide initiatives,” Mishkin said. “The Board has great confidence in his abilities.”
Reynolds noted that, while it is somewhat typical in higher education for an interim president to “serve in a way to keep things in shape” for the arrival of the president, he — with the Board’s endorsement — believes the institution can move forward in a number of areas “rather than keeping the College in a holding pattern.”
“I intend to work with all of our constituent groups to identify those items that will add additional value to a Wilmington College education and to partner with our faculty and staff to accomplish them,” he said.
“We have many important projects already in progress and my responsibility is to continue to provide support to the individuals and groups responsible for their completion,” he added.
“We also have many new ideas to consider and I will use my time as interim president to lead those discussions so we can identify other ways in which we can make the College an even better place from which our students can graduate.”
Reynolds noted he has spent a great deal of time in recent months meeting with alumni and friends of the College, as well as engaging with trustees and introducing himself to “the many people who believe that Wilmington is a special place.”
“I continue to feel great pride in the work that we do on behalf of our students because, despite all the many things we work on, at the end of each day, it is all about them and how we transform them through the educational process,” he said.
Reynolds was quick to praise DiBiasio as a colleague, friend and mentor.
“Dan and Chris (Burns-DiBiasio) devoted their lives for the past 16 years to Wilmington College and we all owe them a great debt of gratitude for not only their service but for their deep and abiding love for the College,” he said.
“They have made Wilmington a better and stronger place and we are all the beneficiaries of their stewardship during their time here.”[[In-content Ad]]
Jim Reynolds assumed the interim presidency at Wilmington College Monday (Aug. 1).
He succeeds Dan DiBiasio, WC’s second longest serving president, who has moved to Ada, Ohio, where he became Ohio Northern University’s new president, also on Aug. 1.
Reynolds served as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty since coming to WC in 2007.
Immediately following DiBiasio’s announcement in February, the Board of Trustees tabbed Reynolds to serve as president during the interim period until a permanent president is selected and assumes office. With the search process well underway, the College anticipates the new president will be in office next July 1.
Board chair Sidney Mishkin said having an interim president that knows the College so well will facilitate the institution “continuing to move forward with great momentum.”
“Jim possesses a comprehensive view of the College that complements his position in academic leadership, and he worked closely with Dan on a number of campus-wide initiatives,” Mishkin said. “The Board has great confidence in his abilities.”
Reynolds noted that, while it is somewhat typical in higher education for an interim president to “serve in a way to keep things in shape” for the arrival of the president, he — with the Board’s endorsement — believes the institution can move forward in a number of areas “rather than keeping the College in a holding pattern.”
“I intend to work with all of our constituent groups to identify those items that will add additional value to a Wilmington College education and to partner with our faculty and staff to accomplish them,” he said.
“We have many important projects already in progress and my responsibility is to continue to provide support to the individuals and groups responsible for their completion,” he added.
“We also have many new ideas to consider and I will use my time as interim president to lead those discussions so we can identify other ways in which we can make the College an even better place from which our students can graduate.”
Reynolds noted he has spent a great deal of time in recent months meeting with alumni and friends of the College, as well as engaging with trustees and introducing himself to “the many people who believe that Wilmington is a special place.”
“I continue to feel great pride in the work that we do on behalf of our students because, despite all the many things we work on, at the end of each day, it is all about them and how we transform them through the educational process,” he said.
Reynolds was quick to praise DiBiasio as a colleague, friend and mentor.
“Dan and Chris (Burns-DiBiasio) devoted their lives for the past 16 years to Wilmington College and we all owe them a great debt of gratitude for not only their service but for their deep and abiding love for the College,” he said.
“They have made Wilmington a better and stronger place and we are all the beneficiaries of their stewardship during their time here.”[[In-content Ad]]