For Immediate Release

January 28, 2006
Contact: Melanie McDonald, director of public relations, 574-257-3962; 574-274-3778

Saint Mary’s College VP to lead Wabash College

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—The Wabash College Board of Trustees elected Dr. Patrick White, vice president and dean of faculty at Saint Mary’s College, as its 15th president. White will assume the Wabash presidency on July 1, and will also serve as professor of English there.

“Dr. White contributed 17 years of dedicated service in academic administration to Saint Mary’s, and the College has benefited tremendously from his creative leadership,” says Saint Mary’s College President Carol Ann Mooney. “On a personal note, Dr. White’s sense of humor, easygoing nature and ability to remain level-headed in any situation made him a great asset to our leadership team. We will miss him.”

During his tenure at Saint Mary’s, White created the Center for Academic Innovation and helped to establish the Center for Women’s InterCultural Leadership, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. He also created the SISTAR and COSTAR programs, which supported collaborative research between students and faculty as well as among faculty members themselves.

In addition to his role as Saint Mary’s vice president and dean of faculty since 2002, White also served as associate dean of faculty from 1988 to 2002. He has been a professor of English at Saint Mary’s since 1988 as well.

White earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, and received his master’s and doctorate in English and American literature from the University of Iowa.

“I love Saint Mary’s College. Saint Mary's and its students will always have a special place in my heart,” says White. “But it’s also exciting and challenging to move from one great college to lead another.” White's two daughters, Molly and Katie, are juniors at Saint Mary's.

Wabash College, with an enrollment of 871 students, is one of three men’s colleges remaining in the United States.

President Mooney hopes to have someone in place by the time White leaves.

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