Brian C. Mitchell

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Upon assuming the presidency of Washington and Jefferson College in 1998, Mitchell was thrust into a long-simmering schism between the city of Washington, Pennsylvania and the college. During a courtesy visit to local officials early in his tenure, Mitchell was berated by the officials for 45 minutes, blaming the college "for everything that had gone wrong in the last 50 years.” [6] [7]

In 2000, the college and Franklin & Marshall College, Michigan State University and SUNY Geneseo participated in a collaborative effort sponsored by the Knight Collaborative, a national initiative designed to develop strategies for partnership between colleges and local community revitalization efforts. [8] Shortly thereafter, Washington & Jefferson was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to develop a coherent plan, entitled the "Blueprint for Collaboration," to detail goals and benchmarks for the future to help the College and the city work together on economic development, environmental protection, and historic preservation. [9] The plan included provisions for the college to offer more academic opportunities for the community and to explore moving its bookstore into the downtown area, develop student housing in the downtown area, and to expand student use of the downtown eating, shopping, and visiting destinations. [8] The City of Washington began a downtown revitalization project featuring new sidewalks, landscaping, and fiber-optic cables. [8] The plan also called for an "investors roundtable," comprising federal and state officials, the banking community, commercial interests, and potential investors. [8]

Mitchell ushered in an expansion of the academic programs, including the addition of an Environmental Studies Program, an Information Technology Leadership Program, the Office of Life-Long Learning, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree Program in Music. [5] The college's international partnership and student exchange with the University of Cologne was expanded. [5] A capital campaign brought in over $90 million and the college simultaneously increased the volume of applications and became more selective in its admission practices. [10]

In June 2001, Mitchell and the Washington and Jefferson trustees adopted a new master plan to remodel the campus and its educational environment, building modifications and a campus beautification program. [5] The campus dining facility, the "Commons," was remodeled in 2000, the football field was improved and rededicated as Cameron Stadium in 2001, and the Old Gym was re-purposed as a campus fitness and wellness center. [5] Several new buildings were constructed under the plan, including The Burnett Center in 2001, a new technology center in 2003, and a new dormitory in 2002. [5] A second dormitory was initiated in 2003 and was completed after Mitchell's March 2004 departure for the presidency of Bucknell University. [5]

Bucknell University

Brian C. Mitchell was named Bucknell University’s 16th president in July 2004 and served six years until stepping down in June, 2010. During his tenure, Bucknell expanded programs in biomedical engineering, environmental studies, and public policy.[ citation needed ] Mitchell is the principal architect behind the development of Bucknell University’s strategic plan and its first comprehensive master plan since the 1930s.[ citation needed ] He led a major fundraising effort for Bucknell to raise at least $400 million over the next several years and which has already[ when? ] raised over $170 million from all sources to date.[ citation needed ] He assisted with the development of new 30,000 sq. ft. Barnes & Noble Bookstore in downtown Lewisburg as well as rehabilitated downtown administrative office space, the rejuvenation of the art deco Campus Theater, a business incubation center, Bucknell Landing which opens the Susquehanna River directly to Bucknell's faculty, students, staff and programs, and more than 10 miles in rails-to-trails projects in the region.[ citation needed ]

Working with Bucknell's faculty, he implemented a new arts and science curriculum; ABET reaccreditation of the University's engineering college, the move from department to a School of Management, and the migration to the 5-course load that lowered the student/faculty ratio to 10/1.[ citation needed ] More than 60 new professors were hired during his tenure, amid a focus on improving faculty salaries, expanding sabbatical and travel funds, opening a new Teaching and Learning Center.[ citation needed ] During his service, Bucknell improved its bond rating.[ citation needed ] [11]

Edvance Foundation

In July 2010, Mitchell partnered with Kurt M. Thiede to establish the Edvance Foundation, a nonprofit organization bringing expertise, resources, ingenuity, and foresight to institutions of higher education across the U.S. [12]

Later career

Mitchell serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees of Merrimack College. He is also a member of the board of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation in Chicago and has served as a trustee of Washington and Jefferson College.

Mitchell was honored with the 2010 national award for individual contributions to American higher education by the Posse Foundation in New York City in May 2010. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Date information sourced from Library of Congress Authorities data, via corresponding WorldCat Identities  linked authority file (LAF) .
  2. ↑ "Academic Innovators". academicinnovators.com. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Brian Mitchell & Associates".
  4. ↑ "News: Mitchell announces coming year will be his last as Bucknell president || Bucknell University". Archived from the original on 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Brian C. Mitchell (1998-2004)". U. Grant Miller Library Digital Archives. Washington & Jefferson College. 2003-09-04.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Marino, Gigi (September 2004). "What a Ride It Will Be" (PDF). Bucknell World. Bucknell University.
  7. ↑ "Colleges, communities find ways to coexist". CNN.com. Associated Press. 2003-07-14. Archived from the original on 2006-12-23.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "College and Community Present Cooperative Plan" (Press release). Washington and Jefferson College. 2002-11-22. Archived from the original on 2006-08-29.
  9. ↑ "Blueprint for Collaboration Applauded" (Press release). Washington and Jefferson College. 2003-06-26. Archived from the original on 2006-08-29.
  10. ↑ "Mitchell leaves W&J for job at Bucknell". Pittsburgh Business Times. 2004-03-02.
  11. 1 2 "Archived copy". www.merrimack.edu. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Home". edvancefoundation.org.
Brian C. Mitchell
Brian C Mitchell.jpg
President of Bucknell University
In office
2004–2010
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