Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Greenville College Board of Trustees, I greet you as a valued member of our college family. Thank you for your prayers voiced over this last year for our president as he has grieved the death of his wife, for the Hogue Hall evacuation and recent decision to rebuild the deteriorating facility, and for the tremendous work of our faculty and staff in the instruction and care of our students.

We again request your prayers as the college embarks on a presidential search in response to Dr. Jim Mannoia's retirement announcement, effective July 1, 2008, made at the closing faculty and staff gathering in May. Dr. Mannoia has served as Greenville College's tenth president since January 1999.  (See www.greenville.edu for a news release honoring his service to our institution.) The board has drafted a presidential transition policy that can provide guidance for our board in the process.  Dr. Mannoia had put together an excellent administrative team which will help with the continuity during this transition.  

Over the last nearly ten years Dr.Mannoia has left a distinct footprint on the campus of Greenville College that will serve us well in the years to come. Along with the other trustees, I have come to value deeply his passion for liberal arts education, his creative ideas and solutions in an ever-increasing competitive environment, and his focus on developing the character of our future leaders.

Interim president, Dr. Ed Blue, has served Greenville College for over 14 years as head of the Education Department and now dean of the School of Education. Prior to his tenure at GC, Dr. Blue served as president at Asbury College (KY). He holds a doctoral degree in Policy and Administration from Indiana University, a master's degree in Education from Indiana University and a B.A in History from Grace College.

Having served as a public school teacher, principal, central office administrator, college professor and college president, Dr. Blue has been honored in three states, Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, for his commitment to education. He also served on a committee for President George W. Bush to create legislation to combat illegal pornography.

Dr. Blue and his wife, Judy, are parents to four grown children and grandparents of five. His daughter, Teresa (Blue) Holden, and her husband, Dave, both live in Greenville and work at the college.

A formal celebration of Dr. Mannoia's retirement from Greenville College will be held Friday, November 14, 2008. The schedule of events will include a chapel service, reception with students, luncheon with community leaders and a special President's Society Dinner honoring Dr. Mannoia.

Writer Isaac Asimov once stated, "the only constant is change." We acknowledge the "stretching" that results from new plans, processes and people, and we are grateful for the resiliency demonstrated by our faculty, staff and students in the face of change.  We anticipate God's goodness and direction as we seek Him for his best representative to lead our campus.

Thank you, again, for your support of Greenville College, demonstrated through prayer and financial gifts, in addition to trusting us with your students. Blessings to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rebecca Bruce Smith ‘68
Chair, Greenville College Board of Trustees