 |
 |
Oglethorpe University President to Retire
Atlanta - Oglethorpe University President Dr. Donald S.
Stanton has announced his decision to retire June 30, 1999. Stanton,
14th president of the University, has served since 1988.
"Over the last 10 years, Oglethorpe has undergone much growth and
Don Stanton has been highly instrumental in making it happen," said
Jesse S. Hall, chairman of the Oglethorpe University Board of
Trustees and retired executive vice president of SunTrust Banks,
Inc. "He has provided important leadership as Oglethorpe prepares
itself for the 21st century. On behalf of the board, I thank him for
his service and for an administration that has been very beneficial
to this institution."
Stanton is the former president for ten years of Adrian College
in Michigan. He also served at Wesleyan College in Macon, the Office
of College Services of the United Methodist Division of Higher
Education, and at Greensboro and Wofford Colleges.
During Stanton’s administration, Oglethorpe University has seen
unprecedented growth in facilities and endowment. Since 1988 when
Stanton became president, Oglethorpe has added or renovated space
equivalent to more than two-thirds of that which previously existed
on the campus. New facilities include The Miriam H. and John A.
Conant Performing Arts Center, The Steve Schmidt Sport & Recreation
Center, a 71-bed residence hall, six houses for fraternities and
sororities, a maintenance and physical plant facility and a $1.1
million campus computer network. Renovations include an addition to
Philip Weltner Library that tripled the size of the existing
facility and an expansion of Oglethorpe University Museum,
conversion of Goodman Hall from residential to office and classroom
space, improvements to Lupton Hall and numerous other improvements
to existing facilities.
Under Stanton’s leadership, Oglethorpe University’s endowment has
grown from $8.0 million to more than $22.3 million. The Campaign for
Oglethorpe, concluded in 1993, raised more than $18 million—the
largest capital campaign at that time in the University’s history.
The current $35 million capital campaign, The Oglethorpe
Opportunity, is to be completed December 31, 1999 and has already
raised $25.5 million to date. The Oglethorpe Opportunity focuses on
raising money for seven areas: Endowment ($16 million), The Miriam
H. and John A. Conant Performing Arts Center ($5.4 million), current
support ($5 million), a new residence hall ($3.4 million),
renovation of Oglethorpe’s historic buildings ($3 million), the new
computer network ($1.1 million) and The Steve Schmidt Sport &
Recreation Center ($1.1 million).
Manning M. Pattillo, Stanton’s immediate predecessor and honorary
chancellor of the University, made improving academics a priority of
his administration. Under his leadership, Oglethorpe University
became a Baccalaureate I institution, The Carnegie Foundation for
the Advancement of Teaching’s highest designation for liberal arts
colleges. Building on Pattillo’s leadership, Oglethorpe has continued
to improve academically under Stanton. The average SAT score of
entering freshmen for fall 1997 was 1213 (national average was 1016,
state average was 967). Enrollment for fall 1997 was 1,230 with
students representing more than 30 countries and more than 30
states. Terminal degrees are held by 96% of Oglethorpe’s full-time
faculty members. The student to faculty ratio is 13/1 and average
class size in all programs is 16. Oglethorpe remains the only
coeducational Baccalaureate I institution in the state of Georgia.
In addition to improvements in facilities, fundraising and
endowment, under Stanton’s leadership, Oglethorpe has seen
tremendous growth in its outreach to the community and the world.
This year marks the 13th season of Shakespeare on the campus
presented by Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Oglethorpe University
Museum has exhibited many international exhibits including "The
Grand Tour: Landscape and Veduta Paintings—Venice and Rome in the
18th Century" and the most recent "Mystical Arts of Tibet Featuring
Personal Sacred Objects of the Dalai Lama" who visited the exhibit
in May 1998. Oglethorpe now has international exchange agreements
with 11 partner institutions in 8 countries. Oglethorpe University
is home to Seigakuin Atlanta International School, a kindergarten
and elementary school offering a completely Japanese education to
approximately 100 Japanese and American students. During the
Olympics, Oglethorpe hosted groups from Germany and was the
"turn-around" point for the men’s and women’s marathons. In
addition, many members of the community enjoy watching Oglethorpe’s
Stormy Petrels compete in 14 varsity sports as a member of the
Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The athletic program had
just six teams when Stanton’s term began.
Stanton holds degrees from Western Maryland College, Wesley
Theological Seminary, The American University and the University of
Virginia where he earned his doctorate. He has been awarded honorary
doctorates by Columbia College, Western Maryland College and Albion
College. The Administration building at Adrian College is named for
Stanton and his wife Barbara. He is listed in Who’s Who in America,
Who’s Who in Finance and Industry and Who’s Who in American
Education.
Stanton is a contributing author to two books in the field of
higher education, the former editor of Faculty Forum and the author
of approximately 20 articles in various national publications. He is
the past chair of the University Center in Georgia, the treasurer of
the Association of Private Colleges and Universities in Georgia and
a former member of the Board of Directors of the American
Association of University Administrators and of the Public Relations
Commission of the National Association of Independent Colleges and
Universities.
A Rotarian and an accomplished bass-baritone soloist, President
Stanton has delivered addresses or papers related to higher
education in Europe, Asia, North and South America. He and his wife,
the former Barbara Hoot, are parents of a son and twin daughters,
all college graduates.
Oglethorpe University is an independent, highly-selective,
coeducational liberal arts institution located in Atlanta at 4484
Peachtree Road NE. Founded in 1835, Oglethorpe University is
dedicated to producing graduates who are broadly educated in the
fundamental fields of knowledge and the basic concepts and
principles of their disciplines.
###
|
