Title: Wayne Powell Named President of ELCA's Lenoir-Rhyne College
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 28, 2002

WAYNE POWELL NAMED PRESIDENT OF ELCA'S LENOIR-RHYNE COLLEGE
02-252-MR/MA**

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Wayne B. Powell, 51, will become the 11th
president of Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C., on Dec. 1.  Lenoir-
Rhyne is one of 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA).
     "It is a distinctive honor and privilege to be selected as
president of Lenoir-Rhyne," said Powell.  "This is an outstanding
institution focusing on excellence in teaching, with a faculty and staff
that are unsurpassed in their dedication to serving students.  Our
potential to rise to even greater levels is a function of our close ties
to the Hickory community and our alumni," he said.
     Powell has served as vice president and dean for academic affairs
at Lenoir-Rhyne College since 2000.  From 1992 to 2000, he served as
dean and associate dean for the Graduate College at Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater, Okla.  Powell was professor, associate and
assistant professor of mathematics at Oklahoma State from 1980 to 2000.
From 1986 to 1987, Powell was a visiting associate professor at the
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.  He was an instructor there from
1978 to 1980.
     Powell earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Texas Lutheran
College -- now Texas Lutheran University -- Seguin, Texas, in 1971.  He
earned a master's degree in mathematics and computer science at Texas
A&M University, College Station, Texas, in 1973, and received a
doctorate in mathematics from Tulane University, New Orleans, in 1978.
Texas Lutheran is a university of the ELCA.
     Powell's research in mathematics resulted in numerous publications
in internationally recognized journals and received the distinctive
recognition of support  from the National Science Foundation.  Powell
also initiated a number of programs and projects during his tenure at
Oklahoma State.  Among these were the Futures in Science and Mathematics
Program and the Oklahoma Principal's Science Scholars, where he was
chief administrator and co-founder of this coalition of educators
dedicated to enhancing opportunities for minority junior and senior high
school students interested in science and mathematics.  Powell received
external funding from state, federal, and private sources for more than
20 years in support of his programmatic initiatives.
     Powell received national recognition from the Council of Graduate
Schools for his innovative approach to building diversity in higher
education.  He served frequently as a featured speaker at national
conferences on diversity and planning.
     "Dr. Powell has brought dynamic leadership to Lenoir-Rhyne College
in his role as vice president and dean for academic affairs since his
arrival in 2000.  The board of trustees believes he will continue to
provide the direction necessary to help the college achieve its
potential as it builds on its strengths in academics, external funding,
diversity and faith-based learning," said John David Moose, Durham,
N.C., chair of Lenoir-Rhyne's board of trustees.
     "The board believes Dr. Powell is a seasoned leader and has proven
his commitment to academic excellence and teaching through his many
professional accomplishments. The board welcomes his leadership with
enthusiasm and is prepared to work with him to help this college realize
its bright future," Moose said.
     Powell is a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hickory.  He
and his wife, Joyce, have two daughters and a son.
     The board's presidential search committee recommended Powell for
the presidency on Oct. 21 following a national search.  The 14-member
committee sought candidates for the presidency who were Lutheran, with
the personal and professional ability to passionately articulate the
value and importance of a Lutheran liberal arts education; had a
commitment to teaching and learning; demonstrated management and
leadership experience; had a proven ability to set a clear, positive
agenda for the institution; and had the capacity to ensure vigorous fund
raising in support of endowment, programs and facilities.
     Dr. Ryan A. LaHurd, president of Lenoir-Rhyne from 1994 to 2002,
resigned May 31, to accept the position of executive director for the
Near East Foundation, New York.  Lenoir-Rhyne's board of trustees
elected Dr. Norman D. Fintel, Salem, Va., to serve as interim president
on Aug. 1, until the arrival of the new president.  LaHurd was an
advisor to the ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools board and
has served as president of the ELCA Association of Lutherans of Arab and
Middle Eastern Heritage.
-- -- --
     [** Margaret Allen serves as associate director of public
relations at Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.]

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