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Freshmen Not the Only Ones Beginning New
Careers at Oglethorpe
Atlanta – When classes start tomorrow, approximately 265
new students will begin their academic careers at Oglethorpe
University, but they aren’t the only new faces on campus. Dr. Larry
Large also begins his first full year as 15th president of the
university.
“I arrived at Oglethorpe in April of this year and presided over
commencement in May, but I am excited to begin my first full
academic year now with the class of 2003,” said Large. “I understand
the tremendous excitement these new students must feel as they start
a new phase of their lives. I am very pleased to be here with them.”
The incoming class of students is composed of students from 30
states and from about a dozen countries, including the Czech
Republic, Norway, Jamaica, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, France, the
Bahamas-- and for the first time for Oglethorpe University, Estonia
and Namibia. The students have an average high school GPA of about
3.6; they average 1200 on the SAT (more than 180 points above the
national average), and 27 on the ACT. Of the students for whom we
have class rankings, almost 70 percent were in the top quarter of
their high school graduating class; almost 40 percent were in the
top 10 percent of their class; and 22 percent were in the top 5
percent of their class.
Large, former executive vice president of Reed College in
Portland, Ore., was named president of Oglethorpe University in
November 1998. He began his term as president on April 1 of this
year. He will be inaugurated in January 2000.
“I am so pleased to be here in Atlanta. The people have welcomed
us so generously,” said Large. “The people of the Northwest are
friendly, but I never imagined I could feel so much at home so
quickly here. I know that our new students will find that same
friendliness.”
Large graduated from Portland State University in 1964. He went
on to earn his master’s degree in 1970 from the University of
Oregon. In 1974, Large received his Ph.D. from the University of
Oregon. He began his career in the Oregon University System in
admission, student services, academic counseling and financial aid.
From 1972 to 1982, Large served as vice president for student
affairs, vice president for administration, acting president and
vice president for university relations at Willamette University in
Salem, Oregon. Large was vice president for development and college
relations at Reed College from 1982 to 1987.
Large was vice chancellor of the Oregon University System and
vice president for public affairs and development for the University
of Oregon between 1987 and 1995. Large served as Reed College’s
executive vice president from February 1995 to April 1999.
Oglethorpe University is an independent, highly selective
coeducational liberal arts university located in Atlanta. 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. During the
1998-99 academic year, Oglethorpe enrolled 1,230 students
representing 32 states and international students from 31 countries.
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