Inauguration of Jim Reynolds as 18th WC president set for March 22

James M. Reynolds will be installed as Wilmington College’s 18th president during an inauguration ceremony Friday, March 22 at 2 p.m., in Hugh G. Heiland Theatre.

Due to limited seating, this event is by invitation only, however, the ceremony will be professionally Webcasted and available for viewing on the college’s website (www.wilmington.edu).

Wilmington College announced Feb. 15, 2012, the appointment of Reynolds as the institution’s 18th president. He served as interim president during the previous six months, succeeding Daniel DiBiasio as the college’s top executive.

Robert E. Touchton, chair of the Board of Trustees will preside at the ceremony, which will include music by the College Chorale and greetings offered by representatives of the faculty, staff, student body, alumni association, community/Wilmington Yearly Meeting and Reynolds family.

Following the presentation and installation of Reynolds as president, he will present his vision for the college titled “Not By A Leap…”

Reynolds, who holds a Ph.D. in biology from Illinois State University, came to Wilmington College in 2007 to serve as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty.

His background reflects academic achievement and administrative excellence.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Drake University, he obtained a master’s degree in zoology from DePauw University. From 2003 through 2006, he was academic vice president and dean of the faculty at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska.

Previously, he held various teaching and administrative positions at his undergraduate alma mater, including associate dean and interim dean of the College of Pharmacy.

His scholarly work has been published extensively, and his classroom excellence has resulted in six “Teacher of the Year” awards. He was awarded a fellowship from the American Council on Education while at Illinois Wesleyan University and a postdoctoral research fellowship from the National Institutes of Health.

Reynolds and his wife, Sue, have been married for 33 years. They have two daughters, Erin, a sophomore at Wilmington College, and Amanda, who recently earned a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Pepperdine University and is a therapist/office manager for The Solstice Clinic in Los Angeles.