UNMC pursues new affiliation, hosts St. Paul’s College contingent

From left, Shirley Blanchard, Creighton University; Keathan Willson, Ph.D., St. Paul’s College; Mary McNamee, Ph.D., UNMC; Thomas Leecost, M.D., St. Paul’s College; Julie Stoner, Ph.D., UNMC; John McClain, Ph.D., UNMC; and John Waddell, Ph.D., St. Paul’s College.

In another step toward enhancing the diversity of its student body and forging another link with the national African-American community, UNMC faculty members are hosting a two-day visit by executives from St. Paul’s College, a historically black college in Lawrenceville, Va.

The St. Paul’s College delegation is led by President John Waddell, Ph.D., the youngest historically black college president in America and a member of the prestigious Board of Advisors to the White House Initiatives for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is accompanied by Keathan Willson, Ph.D., provost, and Thomas Leecost, M.D., medical/nursing advisor.

“We are really excited at the prospect of partnering with UNMC,” Dr. Waddell said. “Our college is located in an area where there is a high prevalence of serious medical conditions that need to be addressed. We want to partner with an institution that will enable not only our students to have access to the kinds of opportunities UNMC can provide, but also a institution that will assist the needs of our community.”

On Wednesday, UNMC’s John McClain, Ph.D., right, meets with John Waddell, Ph.D., of St. Paul’s College.

“We are very honored that the senior leadership of St Paul’s College is visiting us,” said John McClain, Ph.D., UNMC chief student affairs officer, Student Services Administration, and associate vice chancellor, academic affairs/graduate studies.

“We are in the midst of discussing an affiliation with them which will involve their students and their faculty. We are also in the preliminary stages of developing an NIH proposal, which will assist them in enhancing their research infrastructure. Optimally, our relationship with St Paul’s College will evolve into a comprehensive relationship which will contribute to the diversity of UNMC’s student body and foster joint research projects between our institutions.”

More on St. Paul’s College St. Paul’s College began as a one-room parochial school founded by a newly ordained Episcopal dean, the Rev. James Solomon Russell, to provide the only education available to blacks in southern Virginia. By 1888, it had grown into a Normal and Industrial School and, in 1941, St. Paul’s College granted its first baccalaureate degrees. The campus is on 600-acres of rolling countryside in the town of Lawrenceville, about 75 miles southeast of Richmond. Today, St. Paul’s College is a private, accredited, coeducational four-year liberal arts institution with more than 540 students. The college offers bachelor of arts degrees in criminal justice, English, general studies, political science and sociology; bachelor of science degrees in aquaculture, biology, business administration, environmental science, mathematics and office administration. St. Paul’s also is developing a regional aquaculture demonstration site to augment its academic program.

Dr. Waddell, 40, is the eighth president at St. Paul’s College. He was installed in September 2001. A native of Columbia, S.C., Dr. Waddell is a graduate of the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management and received his doctorate in higher education administration from Florida State University. He completed his master’s degree in student personnel and bachelor’s degree in secondary education at the University of South Carolina. Prior to his appointment at St. Paul’s, Dr. Waddell served as president of Allen University in Columbia, S.C.

During his five-year administration at Allen University, Dr. Waddell increased enrollment from 235 in 1997 to 534 students; completed a $7.5 million bond issue with Bank of America; built a $4 million, 35,000 square foot gymnasium/auditorium with an Olympic-size swimming pool; completed a $3 million renovation of Arnett Hall, the oldest building on campus; and obtained licensure of the Teacher Education Program in elementary education.

St. Paul’s College is currently looking forward to the grand opening of a comprehensive, state-of-the-art student center. In addition, its degree program in aquatic science is quickly gaining popularity as Virginia is seeking to become a leading state in the development of fish farming and other products.