“Wittenberg’s mission as a liberal arts university that is committed to developing the whole person, intellectually, physically, and spiritually, is more relevant today than ever before,” Brady said Friday. “I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners to build upon these strong foundations. Together, we will stoke the flame of Wittenberg so that its light will shine brighter than ever before.”
Brady will join Wittenberg on June 1 following his tenure as the dean of the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. He previously led the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University and served as interim dean of the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Brady holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in history and near eastern studies, a master’s from Wheaton College in biblical and theological studies, and a doctorate from the University of Oxford in ancient Hebrew and Jewish literature.
He began his academic career at Tulane University as an assistant professor and the director of the interdisciplinary program in Jewish Studies. He then became the director of Tulane’s Honors Program after receiving tenure.
“Dr. Brady exemplifies the innovative, mission-driven leadership Wittenberg needs to thrive in today’s challenging higher education landscape,” said William Edwards, chair of the university Board of Directors. “His commitment to academic rigor and experience in building programs and cultivating philanthropic support will be invaluable as we continue to live out our motto of ‘Having Light We Pass It On to Others.’”
In a short, upbeat event Friday in Wittenberg’s Benham-Pence Student Center, Edwards was focused on the future.
“We are now entering a new era for Wittenberg,” he said. “And this new era requires a visionary leader for the moment.”
After the university experienced financial challenges in recent years, Brady told the News-Sun that Wittenberg is committed to developing students and will work through all the challenges.
“This is an incredible institution with a strong legacy and an incredibly valuable mission of developing our students, not just intellectually but physically and spiritually. That remains strong,” Brady said. “The Wittenberg Way remains a firm and clear path forward to develop the entire student and prepare them for success in life to leave fulfilling and complete lives.”
Two soon-to-be sophomores who attended Friday’s event, Anndrea Land, accounting and business major, and Harlee Dingess, accounting major, both said they’re not worried about the university’s future related to financial challenges and feel there hasn’t been a change at the school.
“It makes me feel comfortable and it makes me feel at home,” Land said.
“I love Wittenberg. I feel at home. This was the only college that I felt at home at that I visited,” Dingess said, although she does feel their financials could be a “little bit more organized.”
The university was given a “financial distress” designation by the Higher Learning Commission at the end of February after the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid office “raised substantial doubt about the institution’s ability to continue as a going concern.”
University officials said that designation was based on the school’s condition before recent financial adjustments, and that those changes were designed to position the university for the future.
Last August, Wittenberg University’s board of directors approved a plan that would eliminate the jobs of 30 faculty and 45 staff. In September, university leaders announced that the reductions would actually impact about 40 people — the jobs of 24 full-time equivalent faculty and 45 full-time equivalent staff members were being eliminated, but some employees were being assigned to open positions.
Credit: 681a852e8220d51b3bb39828
Credit: 681a852e8220d51b3bb39828
Frandsen, who has served eight years as Wittenberg president, was not involved in the search, but told the News-Sun this spring he would tell the next president to empower people to do their work.
“Walk into this knowing that, despite the challenges, there are really good people here” and that “remember that you have two ears and one mouth and listen and talk in appropriate proportions.”
Brady told the News-Sun he thinks the university’s immediate next steps are to make sure they’re giving current students an “incredible experience that they expect and deserve” and recruiting the next generation. “We’re focused on that. I’m very excited about it,” he said.
The Presidential Search Committee has worked over the last six months to find the school’s next president. The committee, which was led by chair Doug Kentfield and vice chair John M. Shumate, includes 13 other people who represent the Board of Directors, faculty, staff, students and alumni. They are also working with a search consultant, DSG I Storbeck.
The firm spoke with community members to identify key characteristics they should consider in the next president through on-campus visits, listening sessions and a survey.
Candidates from the initial pool were chosen for “airport” interviews in March. By April, the committee had narrowed down that initial pool of selected finalists and finalized their recommendation to the Board of Directors.
Brady “distinguished himself among a highly qualified candidate pool” for his demonstrated ability to foster academic communities, navigate complex financial challenges, grow enrollment, and lead through strategic partnerships and collaborative engagement, according to university officials.
“He impressed our search committee, not only with his many accomplishments, but also by his confidence in Wittenberg and his deep commitment to our future. His ability to grow enrollment, inspire philanthropy, and champion the holistic development of students makes him the right leader at the right time for this place,” Edwards said Friday. “He understands the challenges. He understands what faces higher education at the moment, and he sees opportunities to innovate while remaining true to Wittenberg’s mission.”
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