1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Faculty & Staff

Transylvania University names its 26th president

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Seamus Carey, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., has been selected to serve as the 26th president of Transylvania University, effective July 1, 2014. Carey, who received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Fordham University, will succeed Owen Williams at the historic Lexington, Ky., liberal arts institution. Williams was named president in 2010. “Dr. Carey was chosen from a strong pool of candidates because of his dedication to the liberal arts and his academic and administrative experience, first as a philosophy professor and most recently as dean,” said William T. Young Jr., chairman of Transylvania’s Board of Trustees. As dean at Sacred Heart, Carey designed and implemented a performing arts minor and the Great Challenges Curriculum, which consists of four interdisciplinary minors: civic engagement, civil society and the common good; ecology and the global community; equality, wealth and philanthropy; and scientific literacy for the 21st century. He also revised the university’s First-Year Academic Experience to include first-year seminars and The Art of Thinking, a course in introductory logic that provides students with the tools they need to become careful readers, clear thinkers and strong writers. To support some of these new programs, Carey developed a four-year faculty hiring plan that created 15 new faculty lines, funded by increased retention of first-year students. Carey attended Harvard’s Management Development Program and the Executive Leadership Academy sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges. At

Read “Transylvania University names its 26th president”

Henry Clay Center names new executive director

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—The Board of Directors of The Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship has named Eduardo Nino-Moreno as the center’s new executive director. The center, a partnership between Transylvania University, the University of Kentucky and the center’s board, strives to honor the legacy of Henry Clay by promoting compromise as a means of solving our nation’s problems. The flagship program of the center, the Student Congress, invites rising high school seniors to the Transylvania campus each summer for a week-long program of activities where they learn about diplomacy, negotiation and conflict resolution. Nino-Moreno brings a wealth of experience to the position, having served around the world as a senior United Nations official for three decades. In that role, he had first-hand experience facilitating dialogue and developing consensus to avoid serious national confrontations. Nino-Moreno has a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s degree from Cornell University. Prior to his appointment, Nino-Moreno was Transylvania’s director of campus diversity and inclusion. “I am thrilled to accept the challenge of leading the Henry Clay Center for Statesmanship,” said Nino-Moreno. “It is crucial for new generations of students to become acquainted with the rich legacy of one of Kentucky’s most illustrious sons who showed that compromise is an effective tool for strong leadership.” The executive director is responsible for establishing the strategy for the center and overseeing the center’s programming, including the annual Student Congress. For more information about the Henry Clay Center for

Read “Henry Clay Center names new executive director”

Transylvania University names Michael J. Bell interim vice president and dean of the college

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky.—President R. Owen Williams has announced that Michael J. Bell will serve as the interim vice president and dean of the college, effective August 1. Bell was selected after a comprehensive search by a university committee composed of faculty and administrators. “I am very excited about the prospect of having someone with Dean Bell’s experience joining us at Transylvania,” said Williams. “We are all eager to work with him as we start to implement our strategic plan.” Bell has recently served as vice president at a number of colleges requiring interim leadership, including Suffolk University and Merrimack College, both in the Boston area. He began his academic career as a professor at Wayne State University in Detroit and later moved to Grinnell College in Iowa. Bell received his doctorate in folklore and folklife from the University of Pennsylvania. “One of the advantages I bring to the table is that I have experienced a variety of institutions at a variety of stages in the institution’s life,” said Bell. “A few months ago Transylvania was poised to make a leap forward. If I can do anything to build on that momentum, then I would feel extremely successful. “I sense that people are ready to get started and are looking forward to the new term. They want things to happen. Everything I saw, everyone I met, suggested that this is a very strong community, one that cares deeply about the values of

Read “Transylvania University names Michael J. Bell interim vice president and dean of the college”

Rudolph named sports information director at Transylvania University

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Transylvania University announced today that Laura Rudolph will become sports information director in July. She replaces Glenn Osborne, who resigned in May after serving in the position for 14 years. Rudolph, currently the university’s digital recruitment coordinator for the admissions office, has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, with emphasis in sports journalism, from Eastern Kentucky University and is completing a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. Rudolph covered NCAA Division I athletics, the Ohio Valley Conference, major league baseball, OVC championships, and the NCAA football championship subdivision tournament as a sports editor for the Eastern Progress, in Richmond, Ky. In addition, she has covered and photographed local high school and college athletics as a sports reporter at the Corbin News Journal in Corbin, Ky. “I am humbled and excited about the opportunity to continue my love for Transylvania as a member of the Transylvania athletics department,” Rudolph said. “I look forward to focusing my efforts and abilities on telling Transylvania’s untold stories, developing our online platforms and sharing the amazing accomplishments of our student-athletes and alumni.” Osborne enlisted Rudolph to take charge of digital media coverage for first-round games in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2012, which were hosted by Transylvania. Rudolph was also responsible for occasional sports photography, running live blogs and social media during Transylvania’s basketball games with the University of Kentucky. The sports information director serves as the primary media contact for

Read “Rudolph named sports information director at Transylvania University”

Sheilley named athletics director at Transylvania University; will serve as first female AD in the university’s history

Posted on by Office of Marketing and Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky. —Transylvania University has named Holly K. Sheilley, currently the assistant director of championships for the NCAA, as its new athletics director, effective July 1, 2013. “Holly will be an outstanding addition to Transylvania,” said President R. Owen Williams. “Her extensive and varied experience will enhance our already strong athletics program.” Sheilley has been with the NCAA since 2010. She managed four Division I Championships, including the two largest in terms of student-athlete participants, as well as five Division III Championships, including the two biggest. In total, she was responsible for oversight of over $3 million in operating budget. “I am extremely humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as the athletics director at Transylvania University, Sheilley said. “I am committed to continuing the long-standing history of academic and athletic excellence by raising the bar and moving us forward as contenders in Division III. After getting to know the people here, it is clear that the university has a bright future. I am excited to work with such a great group of coaches, staff members and student-athletes.” Prior to joining the NCAA, Sheilley spent eight years in athletics administrative posts at the University of Louisville, working under athletics director Tom Jurich. She has been assistant athletic director for championships and student development and assistant compliance coordinator since 2002. “I am delighted that Holly is coming to Transylvania,” said Barbara LoMonaco, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

Read “Sheilley named athletics director at Transylvania University; will serve as first female AD in the university’s history”