The Bridgewater College Board of Trustees today announced that it has unanimously selected Dr. David W. Bushman as the ninth president of the College.
Bushman, Dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., will assume the presidency on June 1, 2013. An accomplished academic leader, Bushman was selected following a national search and brings to Bridgewater College extensive experience in higher education administration and in the classroom.
Bushman has been with Mount St. Mary’s University since 2009, when he was appointed the founding dean of the university’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics. In this role, he oversees numerous academic programs and new academic program development as well as strategic and communications planning and fundraising for the school.
Prior to leading Mount St. Mary’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics, Bushman served as president of Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C. While at Lees-McRae, Bushman oversaw the college’s successful bid for re-accreditation from Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and developed and implemented a new strategic plan for the institution. During his time at the helm, Lees-McRae engaged in a number of significant campus renovation projects, implemented curricular and co-curricular enhancements, and increased its freshman retention rate significantly.
Bridgewater trustee and board chair Nathan Miller commented, “Dr. Bushman possesses a great mix of experience in teaching, leading, fundraising and service to his community. He was described by many we spoke with as ‘the best of the best.’ We are honored to welcome him into our campus community.”
“Our search has led us to the next great leader of Bridgewater College,” said Judge G. Steven Agee, Bridgewater trustee and chair of the search committee. “We are confident that Dr. Bushman is a man with the integrity, leadership skills and academic credentials needed to guide our college into the future.”
“I join the Bridgewater community filled with both excitement and humility, excitement for the exceptional opportunity represented by the presidency of Bridgewater College and humility in seeking to join, and to lead, the BC community,” said Bushman when asked to comment on his appointment. “An important part of my role will be articulating a shared vision of the College’s future, and I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, alumni and the community in making that vision a reality.”
“We are very fortunate that Dr. Bushman has selected Bridgewater College as his new home,” said interim president Roy Ferguson. “I know we will work together well to ensure a smooth transition and to build on the successes of this great college. It will be an honor to continue to serve BC and its students with a leader of Dr. Bushman’s caliber.”
Before joining Lees-McRae in 2004, Bushman served in a variety of roles at Mount St. Mary’s, including dean of academic services, director of assessment, chair of the department of science and associate professor of biology.
Bushman earned his bachelor of science in biology summa cum laude from Loyola College in Maryland. He graduated from the University of Maryland with both his master of science and doctorate in entomology. Upon completion of his Ph.D., Bushman worked in private industry as a research biologist and research fellow. He has been published in the field of entomology as well as undergraduate science education.
The president-elect has served as an executive committee member for North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and was a board member for The Edgar Tufts Memorial Association. In addition, he has served as a campus site visit member for SACS re-accreditation.
“With our own children now young adults, Suzanne and I are ready to engage the broader ‘family’ of students at Bridgewater,” commented Bushman. “We embrace the College’s responsibility to educate students in mind, body and spirit and cherish the opportunities we will have as college president and spouse to model the pursuit of excellence and the integration of professional and family life in all we do.”
Bushman and his wife, Suzanne DeLaney Bushman, have two children, Emily, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Will, a high school senior.
Share
Contributors
