ATHENS, Tenn. - Stan Harrison, long-time Tennessee Wesleyan College administrator and current vice president of enrollment services, has been named interim president effective May 17. The announcement was made April 16 by Major General Fred Womack, acting president and former chair of the board of trustees.
“Stan is an integral part of the Tennessee Wesleyan family and the Athens community. His loyalty is unsurpassed as he has served the campus in many different capacities over his 28-year tenure, but most importantly, Stan is a constant representative of the TWC mission. The students, faculty and staff are fortunate to be led by a person with such integrity and leadership ability. Stan will undoubtedly continue TWC’s positive momentum as the search begins for our next president,” said Womack.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Harrison remained close to his roots when he accepted the position of head women’s basketball coach at Tennessee Wesleyan in 1982. Harrison led the Lady Bulldogs for 24 seasons, amassing more than 500 wins and numerous conference and regional championships and national tournament appearances.
He also assumed additional leadership responsibilities on campus during this time, including dean of students and vice-president for student development. In 1996, Harrison was named director of athletics and recognized as the NAIA National Athletic Director of the Year in 2004. He has also served the NAIA as the Chair of Region XII for six years, as Chair of the Council of Athletics Administrators for the past two years, and as a member of the NAIA National Coordinating Committee. Additionally, he is former Chairman of the NAIA National Administrative Council and was awarded the prestigious Charles Morris Award as Administrator of the Year in 2009. In addition to serving as associate professor of exercise and sports science and head women’s golf coach, Harrison assumed his current role as vice president of enrollment services in 2007, overseeing two consecutive years of record student enrollment in 2008 and 2009.
Harrison currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Athens Utility Board, the Professional Growth Planning Committee of the Chief Enrollment Officers for TICUA (Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association) and the Staff-Parish Committee of Trinity United Methodist Church, along with various professional organizations. He and his wife, Debbie, have two children and five grandchildren.
“It is an extreme honor to have been selected by the Board of Trustees to fill this very important role. I believe the board was looking for stability during this time of transition. I trust that my long history with Tennessee Wesleyan coupled with the multiple positions that I have held offers that stability,” commented Harrison.
Harrison continued, “Understand that I can not meet all the challenges involved alone. The college has been and continues to be bigger than any one individual. We have an outstanding faculty, staff and student body that I believe will work hand-in-hand to make sure that we continue the momentum which we have experienced in recent years, even through this transitional time.”
“I have a sincere love and passion for Tennessee Wesleyan College and its mission. I look forward to the opportunity to promote the college and that mission in the months to come. I am truly humbled by the selection and hopefully equal to the challenge,” said Harrison.
Womack also announced that a presidential search committee is being formed, and that Joel C. Riley, a member of the TWC Board of Trustees, has been appointed to serve as chair of the committee.
A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Riley has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Power Management, Inc., in Athens, for the past 25 years. He is a member of several community boards, including the McMinn-Athens YMCA, Athens Parks Foundation and Woods Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of Athens Kiwanis Club and Keith Memorial United Methodist Church.
“This is an exciting time at Tennessee Wesleyan as we select a new President to take us to the next level of educational excellence.” According to Riley, “Immediate plans are in place to confirm committee members during the coming weeks and begin this important process in May.”
These announcements follow the resignation of Dr. Stephen Condon, 20th president of Tennessee Wesleyan College, on April 1.
Tennessee Wesleyan College, founded in Athens, Tenn., in 1857, is a four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. With an enrollment of 1,060 students in more than 30 academic majors, the College was named in the top tier of Southern Baccalaureate Institutions by U.S. News and World Report in 2009. Tennessee Wesleyan’s 130 dedicated faculty and staff believe in providing the resources and support students need to become socially responsible, intellectually skilled and spiritually developed members of our community.
See also: