ESU's Schwenn to become president of Dalton State College

Dr. John Schwenn

Dr. John O. Schwenn will be trading Emporia State University’s black and gold colors for the silver and blue of a Georgia institution of higher education. Schwenn, vice president for academic affairs at ESU since 1997, will become the president of Dalton State College, Dalton, Ga.

Schwenn’s appointment was announced Friday by Georgia’s Board of Regents. He is expected to assume his new post March 1, 2008.

“Dr. Schwenn strongly believes in collaboration and the power of partnerships,” said James R. Jolly, who served as chair of a special Regents’ committee in Georgia charged with interviewing the three presidential finalists submitted by DSC’s presidential search and advisory committee. “He has the ability to move Dalton State forward and is sure to be an asset to the University System of Georgia.”

Dalton State College is an institution of approximately 4,400 students in northwest Georgia, about 90 minutes from Atlanta. The college was founded in 1963, and employs 128 fulltime faculty members, according to 2006 figures from DSC’s Office of Instructional Research and Planning. Schwenn will be DSC’s fourth president.

In 2006, Schwenn was tapped to serve as Emporia State’s interim president for five months, during which time he advocated for repair and rehabilitation of academic buildings across the system and was actively involved in fund raising. Dr. Michael R. Lane succeeded Schwenn as ESU’s president in November 2006.

“I have had outstanding professional opportunities at ESU,” said Schwenn. “Our faculty, staff, and students have special relationships and I will miss that. Along with the wonderful colleagues, peers and friends from whom I have learned much, I am grateful to former president Dr. Kay Schallenkamp, who gave me the opportunity to advance my career, and to Dr. Michael Lane, whose global perspective on higher education has been instrumental in my decision to lead an institution of higher education.”

“The ESU community applauds Dr. Schwenn’s long and dedicated service in working with faculty and staff to provide quality programs and insure educational excellence for our students,” said Lane. “I personally appreciate his exceptional leadership as interim president and thank him for his continued guidance and support through the transition period. We are all very pleased for Dr. Schwenn and his family.”

Lane will initiate a national search for Schwenn’s replacement. “Emporia State offers potential candidates a unique, collegial environment and opportunity to be a part of a progressive, student-centered university,” said Lane.

Schwenn has been associated with ESU since 1989, when he was hired as an associate professor and associate chair of the Division of Psychology and Special Education in The Teachers College. Within three years, he was appointed department chair, then in 1994 became associate vice president for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies and research. Three years later, Schwenn was appointed to his current position, in which he has provided leadership to ESU’s faculty in all disciplines.

Prior to his arrival at Emporia State, Schwenn taught at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., from 1976 to 1989.

Since 2003, Schwenn has been a member of the Board of Trustees for Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia. He holds Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees, both in rehabilitation and special education, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His Bachelor of Science degree in psychology came from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. In 2005, that institution presented him with the Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumni Award.

Schwenn and his wife, Judy, have three grown children, one granddaughter, and one grandson due in mid-December. Judy Schwenn teaches ninth and tenth grade English at Emporia High School.

“Judy and I have enjoyed our 18 years in Emporia and will leave with mixed feelings,” said Schwenn. “We are excited about the future and the potential for what we can accomplish but our children were raised here. They attended our Emporia Public Schools and Emporia State University.”

Last Updated February 4, 2008>