Mary Ellen Martin, Executive to the President announces her decision to retire

After over 20 years of meritorious and devoted Christian service to Indiana Wesleyan University, Mary Ellen Martin, Executive Assistant to the President, has announced her decision to retire from the Office of the President effective July 1, 2009. Throughout her distinguished career, Mary Ellen has competently and faithfully served two presidential administrations, all while eloquently displaying to her varied constituents, the epitome of a true world changer.

Provost David Wright comes to IWU

Dr. David Wright – IWU’s First Provost

 

It is with great pleasure and thanksgiving that I announce that Dr. David Wright has accepted our invitation to return home and become IWU’s first Provost and Chief Academic Officer!

 

This decision comes with the enthusiastic support of the provost search committee and the faculty in all three IWU Colleges. The provost search committee diligently searched for a provost for more than a year and brought two excellent finalists to campus last spring.  However, not until David Wright interviewed was there a strong unifying consensus among our campus constituencies.

 

Dr. Wright is completing his third year as Dean of the School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University, in Southern California.  Prior to his current position at APU, he served for 11 years at IWU in a variety of leadership positions including Vice President for Adult and Graduate Studies.

 

The following edited selections represent some of the written responses from a variety of individuals who participated in the interview process.

 

Ø      “He displays a faith that determines the fabric of his life choices and motivates his work.”

Ø      “I am confident he would navigate the tricky waters of the Provost’s position with skill and grace.”

Ø      “Dr. Wright is just who we have been looking for and just who we need.”

Ø      “David Wright has a radical intelligence cloaked in stately humility.”

Ø      “His “unfinished conversation with IWU” resonates with me, and seemed to strike a cord with colleagues.”

Ø      “His wife would be a GREAT fit with our campus and colleagues.”

Ø      “He’s Wesleyan from head to toe and through his soul.”

Ø      “He seems to possess the stature, experience, and wisdom that IWU needs in a chief academic officer if we are to become a premier Christian university.”

Ø      “David has an almost unmatched balance of values, knowledge, and skills in relation to IWU’s unique structure.  One person might “forget” the AGS side; another might denigrate the CAPS side.  David would value and balance all.” 

 

I am absolutely convinced that David possesses the gifts, graces, and passion to serve with distinction as our Provost and Chief Academic Officer.  He is uniquely prepared to provide outstanding leadership for all facets of academics at IWU from adult degree completion, to graduate programs, and to our traditional aged students.  Further, I believe that God has prepared him for this assignment – and, he feels led back to his alma mater. 

 

Join us in prayer during these important days of transition as our campus prepares and the Wright’s return home to Indiana Wesleyan University.  It is our hope that he will begin his new assignment this July 1^st.  However, we are considering opportunities for both David and Helen to return soon to the campus for a visit.

 

Henry Smith

President

Indiana Wesleyan University