West Virginia University Student Affairs will welcome Walter M. Kimbrough, Ph.D., as the guest speaker at their 2012 staff retreat on Thursday (May 17).
Known as the “hip-hop president,” Kimbrough was recently chosen as the seventh president of Dillard University in New Orleans. He is among the youngest college presidents in the nation and is known for putting students’ success above all else and as being very active in the use of social media to engage and stay connected with students.
During his two-day visit, he will meet with student members of WVU’s National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. to discuss leadership roles, meet and have dinner with the Student Affairs senior staff members and serve as the keynote speaker at the Student Affairs staff retreat.
“The Division of Student Affairs is looking forward to meeting Dr. Kimbrough and are very excited to have him as our special guest,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray. “Dr. Kimbrough has great vision. He is daring in his approach to education, innovative, data-driven and has been very successful in moving his staff, students and institution forward.”
Kimbrough has given more than 500 presentations on fraternalism life at numerous campuses and conferences.
Prior to Dillard, Kimbrough served as president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., for seven years. Kimbrough orchestrated a remarkable revitalization effort while serving as president of Philander College. When he stepped into the leadership role of the small Arkansas college, it was somewhat unstable with uninspired faculty and staff members. Kimbrough successfully turned the institution around by empowering students, faculty and staff, increasing student success and attracting more external funding support.
Under his leadership, the college increased student recruitment and graduation rates. The college also adopted a new mission and greatly raised its stature by focusing on its core values and history as a Historically Black College and University and a charter member of the United Negro College Fund.
Prior to beginning his tenure at Philander Smith, he served for four years as the vice president for student affairs at Albany State University in Albany, Ga. He also served as director of student activities and leadership at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and held administrative posts at Georgia State University and Emory University.
Kimbrough has received numerous honors and awards. He was selected as a 2001 Nissan-ETS HBCU Fellow and a 2002 participant in the Millennium Leadership Initiative sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In 2009, he was named by Diverse Issues in Higher Education as one of “25 To Watch.” In 2010, he made the coveted Ebony Magazine Power list of the 100 doers and influencers in the African-American community, joining the likes of President and Mrs. Obama, Jay-Z, Richard Parsons, Tyler Perry, Debra Lee, Michael Jordan and Tom Joyner.
Additionally, Bernadette Jungblut and Regan Bruni will present on the Blueprint for Student Success. Director of Facilities Planning and Scheduling Rob Moyer will present on the Evansdale Redevelopment. Associate Vice President for Academic Strategic Planning Nigel Clark will provide an update on the University Strategic Plan. Associate Vice President for International Student Affairs and Global Services David Stewart will provide an update on the Student Affairs Strategic Plan. A group activity is planned by the Adventure WV program.
-WVU-
ta/05/16/12
CONTACT: Sheila Powell, Student Affairs
304-293-5811, Shyla.Powell@mail.wvu.edu
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