SWU News:

May 3, 2006

SWU appoints Iddings as provost

Dr. R. Keith Iddings

Southern Wesleyan University announces the appointment of Dr. R. Keith Iddings as provost and academic vice president.

Iddings was elected by the Southern Wesleyan University Board of Trustees during its April meeting, according to President David Spittal.

“I am so honored that the board, Dr. Spittal and the campus community have given me this opportunity to serve,” Iddings said. “Southern Wesleyan University is an outstanding institution and I believe God has great things planned for her. I’m looking forward to how He might use me in this newly established role. These are exciting days.”

Iddings had served as interim vice president for academic affairs and initially joined the university as vice president of Adult and Graduate Studies in 2004.

“We have confidence in the leadership Dr. Iddings has demonstrated during this interim period and believe he will provide outstanding leadership as the university continues to grow and develop,” Spittal said.

Prior to coming to Southern Wesleyan, Iddings served as dean of the Division of Open Studies at Trinity International University in Illinois. Has has also served in administration at Indiana Wesleyan University, an affiliated Wesleyan institution. Iddings has also served in other faculty and administrative appointments.

He and his wife, Carol, have served a missionary term in Manila, Philippines. There, he served as director of Christian leadership training and minister of Christian education. Iddings’ ordination as a minister in the Wesleyan Church is pending approval this summer.

The provost position is new to Southern Wesleyan University and assumes the duties previously assigned to the academic vice president, according to Spittal. The provost has broader responsibilities for the administration of the university’s 2,700 students currently enrolled in its various programs. The provost also supervises academic services related to the development and delivery of the schools undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Spittal said.

The appointment was made after a national search. The appointment was recommended by Spittal and affirmed by a unanimous vote of the university’s board of trustees.