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Jo Young Switzer to assume office
of MC presidency on Dec. 1
Jo Young Switzer will assume the Manchester College presidency on Dec.
1, Board of Trustees Chair Dave Haist announced today.
 Switzer, who has led academic affairs at Manchester since 1993, was
selected by the Trustees in August to become the 1,075-student college’s
14th president, succeeding Parker G. Marden. She will assume
the President’s Office and have complete responsibility and authority
for the College. The College has divided the leadership of the Office
of Academic Affairs among her staff until the College hires her
successor.
“We have a remarkable opportunity to make this transition occur as
smoothly as possible,” said Parker G. Marden, who will become President
in Leave, effective Dec. 1. “Jo and I have worked very closely together
on the same management team for nearly 11 years.” Marden will continue
fund-raising for the College.
The community is invited to a Board of Trustees reception on Wednesday,
Dec. 1 to welcome Switzer, a 1969 graduate of the College, as president.
The College community, alumni, public officials and other friends from
surrounding communities will gather to greet her from 3 to 5 p.m. on
Dec. 1, with a brief program at 4 p.m.
Marden announced last year that he planned to retire from the presidency
this academic year.
Celebrations of Marden’s leadership are planned for the remainder of the
school year. Switzer’s inauguration will take place next fall.
Before becoming Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs, Switzer
chaired Manchester’s Department of Communication and taught at Indiana
University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. She holds a doctorate and
master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Kansas
and has completed postdoctoral study at Indiana University.
She has co-authored a textbook, “Interviewing Art and Skill” and
published numerous academic articles. Switzer has chaired the national
deans’ task force for the Council of Independent Colleges and serves as
a consultant evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North
Central Association. She has won several significant
teaching awards, including the Central States
Speech Association’s prestigious 1982 Outstanding Young Teacher.
Manchester, a Church of the Brethren college, offers 45 areas of
baccalaureate study and a master of accountancy degree. For more
information about the college, visit
www.manchester.edu |
