Dr. Henry Smith Named President-elect of IWU

Dr. Henry L. Smith has been chosen as the President-elect of Indiana Wesleyan University. He will become the 11^th president of the 85-year-old University on July 1, 2006. The IWU Board of Trustees, in a special meeting today, approved the recommendation of a committee that was appointed in April to seek a new president.

Dr. Smith will succeed Dr. Jim Barnes, who will become IWU’s first Chancellor on July 1, 2006 – a day after he completes his 19^th year as University president. As President-elect, Smith will work closely with Barnes during the coming year. Both leaders have pledged full cooperation to assure a smooth and successful leadership transition.

Before coming to IWU, Smith was the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Mount Vernon (Ohio) Nazarene University (MVNU). Smith was hired as IWU’s first Executive Vice President after a nationwide search and served this past year concurrently as IWU’s interim Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Executive Vice President position was designed not only to assist the President with the rapid growth of the University, but it was also the hope of the Board of Trustees that the Executive VP could become the next IWU President.

“The search committee was very impressed with Dr. Smith during the interview process and recognized the significant contributions that he already has made since joining the University this past year,” said Carl Shepherd, chairman of the search committee. “The committee enthusiastically and unanimously recommended Dr. Smith to the Board of Trustees for the position of President-elect.”

When Smith joined IWU on July 1, 2004, he returned to his religious and geographic roots. He was born in Frankfort, Ind., where his father served for more than 50 years as founding pastor of the VictoryChapelWesleyan Church. Smith’s heritage as a Wesleyan, coupled with 26 years of proven leadership in Christian higher education, made him an ideal choice for the IWU presidency.

IWU is affiliated with The Wesleyan Church, which has its international headquarters in Indianapolis, and is one of five Wesleyan institutions of higher learning sponsored by the denomination.

Before coming to IWU, Smith served in Nazarene higher education for 25 years, beginning at Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1979. At MVNU, he taught for nine years in the communication department, later became chair of the department and started the campus radio station.

In 1988, Smith went to Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois to chair the Communication Department, direct the 35,000-watt campus radio station and later was named Dean of the School of Graduate and Adult Studies. He returned to MVNU in 1997 as the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

As past chair of the Consortium for the Advancement of Adult Higher Education and with his experience in nontraditional education, Smith brings understanding and appreciation for the University’s diverse and innovative adult programs.

Smith serves as a team chair and member of the Accreditation Review Council for the regional accrediting association – the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, he has consulted on issues of quality in higher education in Central and South America, developed study abroad programs in Hungary, and established faculty/student exchange programs in South Korea.

Smith first graduated from God’s Bible College, Cincinnati, with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education. He earned a second baccalaureate degree in Education and a master of arts degree in Communication at the University of Cincinnati.

Smith earned his Ph.D. in Communication in 1987 from The Ohio State University. He also completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management program for senior leaders and was selected by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities for its Executive Leadership Development Institute.

Smith’s wife, Teresa, also grew up in The Wesleyan Church in Ohio. The Smiths have three adult children, including a daughter who is an IWU nursing student.