FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/1/2007

Bergen Aims to Expand College Programs

GREENVILLE, ILL. – After a six-month, nation-wide search Greenville College president, Dr. V. James Mannoia, Jr., has appointed Dr. Randy Bergen as vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the College. For eighteen months, Dr. Bergen served as interim vice president.

A search committee chaired by Dr. Cecelia Ulmer, professor of Communication, received over 25 applications. The committee narrowed its results to four before a final review with the president.

“We concluded that none was close enough to our own Dr. Bergen,” says Mannoia. “I believe [he] has shown his ability to us.” Dr. Bergen, a 1984 Greenville College alumnus, returned to his alma mater in 2001, serving as associate academic dean and interim vice president and dean before formally accepting the position.

Academic deans contribute to both the academic and administrative sides of the college. Dr. Bergen “is an experienced teacher, has a passion for the Christian liberal arts, and a deep love for Christ,” said Dr. Mannoia. The vice president for Academic Affairs acts as a catalyst between college faculty and administration. He also leads academic planning, acts as a college representative, and oversees faculty and student organizations. While Dr. Bergen did not formally solicit references from our faculty, the committee eceived numerous unsolicited letters and emails. These were from various departments, various levels of seniority, and from both men and women alike. They were without exception positive and supportive of Dr. Bergen.

Since 2001, Dr. Bergen has actively participated in improving faculty-administration relations, policy revisions and two major reaccredidation reviews, ISBE and Higher Learning Commission. He plans to push forward with initiatives to develop new off-campus programs, encourage innovation in the college’s traditional program, and support professional development for faculty members.

“As students are being transformed, GC itself is being transformed,” says Bergen. “I am optimistic that we are moving into unparalleled years of growth and I am confident that this is where God has called me.”

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1450 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.

CONTACT:
Joel Goodman ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-6515