McKendree University President James Dennis Will Retire in 2020
(LEBANON, Ill., June 3, 2019) — Dr. James M. Dennis, who has made an indelible mark
as president of McKendree University for 25 years, has announced he will retire on
June 30, 2020, at the end of his current contract.
The Board of Trustees will conduct a national search for his successor, according
to Daniel Lett, chairman, who praised Dennis’ leadership over the past 25 years.
“The accomplishments achieved as a result of Jim Dennis’ leadership have been nothing
short of miraculous,” said Lett. “Upon his arrival in 1994, he sought to breathe new
life and vitality into this institution—and he has done so by every measure. The McKendree
University community has been transformed by a more diverse faculty and student body;
state-of-the-art facilities; a rich curriculum and presence in the arts; a focus on
service; and graduating young men and women who are successful in every field and
walk of life.”
Dr. James L. Fisher—president emeritus of Towson University and of the Council for
the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the co-author of several books
on college presidential leadership—has described the McKendree president as one of
the transformational stories of higher education.
Dennis has been a catalyst for unprecedented growth and progress over a quarter-century.
A native southern Californian with lifelong ties to higher education, he arrived in
Lebanon, Ill., after a 27-year career at the University of Southern California, with
a bold, enthusiastic vision for McKendree’s future. In his inaugural speech as its
32nd president, he identified seven priorities:
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Strengthen the reality and perception of McKendree as a major liberal arts college.
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Recruit more of the region’s most academically talented students, with emphasis on underrepresented students.
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Improve the quality of student life.
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Expand the emphasis on international education and prepare students to function in the global community.
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Expand McKendree’s public service role in Southern Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis.
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Keep pace with new technology.
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Increase resource development.
Under his guidance, McKendree has increased the academic strength of its faculty,
students, and programs; enrollment, on-campus residence, construction and renovation,
athletics and co-curricular activities, and acquisition of property. During his tenure,
the number of faculty and staff has nearly tripled, and enrollment and fundraising
have increased dramatically. McKendree’s growing reputation has garnered national
attention from prestigious publications and organizations including U.S. News & World Report and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
On July 1, 2007, McKendree College officially became “McKendree University” to reflect
more accurately its broad educational opportunities and expanded programs. Academic
course offerings now include 59 undergraduate majors, 45 minors, and graduate programs
in education, business administration, human resource management, nursing, clinical
mental health counseling and criminal justice. Doctoral programs in education and
nursing, added in recent years, and the McKendree Worldwide online program continue
to grow.
Three successful site visits by Higher Learning Commission evaluation teams have resulted
in reaffirmed accreditation in each decade of his tenure. “McKendree is a gem of a
college and a very special place!” the HLC committee chair remarked after the most
recent review in September 2018.
Dedicated to building a more diverse campus community, Dennis has promoted initiatives
such as the Social Justice and Equity Committee to encourage greater understanding
and sensitivity. Extracurricular activities such as the Marching Bearcat Band and
the Show Choir have contributed to a more vibrant campus community. During his presidency,
McKendree’s cyber defense and nationally ranked speech and debate teams have achieved
notable success. In 1996, football returned for the first time since the 1930’s and
in 2002, the Bearcats rose to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
(NAIA) championship semifinals. In 2013, the athletic program completed its transition
from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Two significant fundraising campaigns during the president’s tenure enabled dramatic
enhancement and improvement of the campus landscape and community. The Piper Academic
Center, built circa 2001, houses classrooms, faculty offices, and the Admission and
Information Technology offices. The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts has become southern
Illinois’ premier performing arts venue and a showcase for student talent since its
2006 opening. Construction has also included athletic facilities, two new residence
halls in 2011, and the renovation of the dining hall and historic campus buildings,
including Bothwell Chapel.
Dennis’ influence has extended beyond the campus as a member of numerous professional
and civic organizations. He is the 2019 president of Leadership Council Southwestern
Illinois, a not-for-profit economic development corporation, and served on the boards
of the Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis, Memorial Hospital and
the St. Louis Regional Chamber. He was on the executive board of the Council of Independent
Colleges, the Associated Colleges of Illinois and the Federation of Independent Illinois
Colleges and Universities, and is the past president of Illinois Campus Compact, an
organization dedicated to volunteerism.
Reflecting on the president’s impact, Board Chairman Lett referred to a pledge President
Dennis made in his 1994 inaugural remarks. “He concluded with a promise found in this
quote from theologian John Wesley: ‘Do all the good that you can, by all the means
that you can, in all the ways that you can, at all the times that you can, to all
the people that you can, for as long as you can.’ He has certainly more than lived
up to these words in the 25 years he has served McKendree University.”
Dr. James Dennis, McKendree University President
