Elizabethtown College Inaugurates Carl J. Strikwerda, Ph.D.

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Carl J. Strikwerda

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (09/07/2011)(readMedia)-- Carl J. Strikwerda will be installed Oct. 1 as President of Elizabethtown College. He is the 14th president in the College's 112-year history. The inauguration event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, in The Dell at Elizabethtown College beginning with the traditional processional at 1:30 p.m. and followed by the formal ceremony at 2 p.m. Delivering the keynote address titled, "What's a College for Anyway?" will be Nicholas Wolterstorff, American philosopher and current Noah Porter Emeritus Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University. A reception, on the Terrace of the Baugher Student Center, immediately follows the ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

The Inauguration ceremony is surrounded by a number of scholarship, community and celebratory activities, open to the public, beginning with an evening concert Friday, Sept. 30 and closing with a 3K run/walk, also open to the public, Sunday, Oct. 2. The complete list of inauguration weekend events is available at http://www.etown.edu/offices/president/events.aspx.

Following an almost yearlong national search, the Board of Trustees appointed Strikwerda as the College's 14th president. After working collaboratively for a month alongside President-Emeriti Theodore E. Long, Strikwerda began his tenure Aug. 1, 2011.

Previously, Strikwerda was dean of the faculty of arts and sciences and professor of history at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. In this position, he oversaw 378 faculty members, 21 departments and 14 interdisciplinary programs that serve 5,600 students, including 500 graduate students in six doctoral and 11 master's degree programs. During his six years at William & Mary, Strikwerda oversaw the construction of new science buildings, helped create a program in community engagement and scholarship, and initiated work to win grants from the Freeman, Gates, Hewlett and Mellon foundations, as well as the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a number of federal agencies. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Elizabethtown's newest president regularly taught a course on global history and advised international relations majors.

Elizabethtown's Board of Trustees Chairman Jim Shreiner '73 believes Strikwerda's leadership will build on a legacy of effective management at the College. "Dr. Strikwerda brings to Elizabethtown College a vision that will continue to advance the College," Shreiner said. "Carl displays an energy and commitment to global education, which is rooted in the traditional values of an Elizabethtown education. He will sharpen our focus for the future. "

Prior to his tenure at William & Mary, Strikwerda served as an associate dean at the University of Kansas from 1998 until 2004, during which time he helped create the European studies program and a peace and conflict studies minor, led study-abroad programs to Europe and won a Kemper Fellowship for excellence in teaching. In addition, Strikwerda helped develop an indigenous nations studies program and forged strong ties with Haskell Indian Nations University, the nation's largest Native American college.

While at William & Mary and the University of Kansas, Strikwerda helped raise private funds for international studies, Jewish studies, writer-in-residence programs, honors programs and faculty and student research. In addition, he has held teaching positions at Calvin College, Hope College, SUNY Purchase and the University of California, Riverside.

Strikwerda earned a bachelor's degree from Calvin College, a master's degree from the University of Chicago and a doctorate from the University of Michigan-all in history. He has published three books and numerous articles on European and global history and has won grants from the German Marshall Fund, the American Philosophical Society and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Strikwerda served as the historical consultant for the National World War I Museum and served as treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences, the nation's largest association of arts and sciences deans.

Strikwerda is married to Gail Bossenga, formerly an associate professor of history at William & Mary. Bossenga has joined Elizabethtown College as an appointed scholar in residence.

Elizabethtown College, in south-central Pennsylvania, is a private coeducational institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Through personal attention, creative inspiration and academic challenge, Elizabethtown College students are encouraged to expand their intellectual curiosity and are given the opportunity to become a bigger part of the world through experiential learning-research, internships and study abroad. Elizabethtown College's overall commitment to Educate for Service is fulfilled as students are taught intellectually, socially, aesthetically and ethically for lives of service and leadership. Visit www.etown.edu for more information about Elizabethtown College.

Important Note for Editors/Reporters: Additional information on Carl Strikwerda's academic and professional experience and high-resolution photographs are available at http://www.etown.edu/offices/president/strikwerda-bio.aspx.