Millikin’s new president at home for career's final chapters
DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — Millikin University’s new president, James Reynolds, did not grow up planning a career in academia.
His original career plans was to be a scientific researcher.
Reynolds will officially take over leadership of the university on July 1, replacing Patrick White, who is retiring after serving as president since 2013. Reynolds is coming from Wilmington (Ohio) College, where he served as interim president from August 2011 to February 2012, when he was named president.
A native of Decatur, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in biology from Drake University, a Master of Arts in zoology from DePauw University and a doctorate in biology from Illinois State University. Reynolds and his wife, Sue, have two daughters: Amanda, a freelance copy writer, and Erin, a mental health counselor.
Among his first tasks will be opening the Center for Theatre and Dance this fall. He expects moving in to begin soon after the Fourth of July. Plans are also underway to bring students back to campus in August.
“A lot of work is being done with the faculty to consider how best to teach students in this particular environment,” he said. “I know a lot of that has been going on. I’ve been in the loop for a lot of that, but not all of it.”
Considerations include how to have intercollegiate athletics while the pandemic is still active, he said.
“I’ll be working with some of the other senior administrative staff on the strategic planning process that the university needs to engage in going forward,” he said. “To look at budget allocations and how best to use the resources that we have and to think more broadly about enrollment and how we can attract more students to Millikin so they can have this really exceptional experience.”
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