Cards, from Southern

Dr. David Pollick named 12th president of Birmingham-Southern College

Dr. G. David Pollick, president of Lebanon Valley College in including two residence halls, a student center, a gymnasium, and a Annville, Pa., since 1996, was introduced March 19 as the 12th presi- health science and fitness center. A new teaching center currently is dent of Birmingham-Southern. He will take office in summer 2004. under construction, with a new science center to soon follow. Eight Pollick will replace longtime President Dr. Neal R. Berte, who new undergraduate and graduate degree programs were added, a announced last October that he would retire in May 2004 after more major public relations effort enhanced the college’s standing among than 28 years as president. Berte will retain the title of chancellor peer institutions, and a redevelopment of the local downtown bestowed on him last fall by the Board of Trustees and continue to streetscape was spearheaded by the college. assist the new president and the college as needed. Prior to joining Lebanon Valley, Pollick was co-chief executive offi- aaa“We said when we began this search that we were going to hire cer and president of the Art Institute of Chicago and The School of the best person available who would be the best possible leader for the Art Institute of Chicago 1993-95, acting president of State Birmingham-Southern College. Today we introduce to you that per- University of New York College at Cortland 1991-92 and provost and son,” W. Michael Atchison, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees, said vice president of academic affairs at SUNY Cortland 1989-93, and in announcing Pollick’s appointment. “We knew that the presidency dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of of this college was one of the jewels in American private higher educa- philosophy at Seattle University in Washington 1984-89. He also has tion, and it demanded that we find the right person to lead us after held teaching and administrative positions at St. John’s University in Dr. Berte’s long and distinguished tenure. Collegeville, Minn., and College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., aaa“Dr. Pollick was highly recommended to our search committee. among others. He is an immensely respected and successful higher education adminis- Pollick’s interest in architectural design and sculpture has led to the trator and educator who has done a remarkable job of transforming design, co-design, or consultation on some 15 college facilities and and moving forward Lebanon Valley College over the past eight years. structures over the past decade, many on the Lebanon Valley campus Birmingham-Southern is extremely excited that Dr. Pollick is bringing and many which have been recognized regionally and nationally. his talents to our Hilltop campus as we continue to strengthen and He received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University enhance our place among the nation’s best liberal arts colleges.” of San Diego, his master’s degree in philosophy from the University of aaaAtchison, a Birmingham attorney and 1965 BSC graduate, chaired Ottawa, Canada, his Ph.L. in philosophy from St. Paul’s University in the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. Ottawa, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Ottawa. aaaPollick oversaw growth and enhancements in several major areas in Pollick’s wife, Karen Bentley Pollick, is a nationally recognized con- his tenure as president of Lebanon Valley, a four-year, liberal arts institu- cert musician and conductor. She performs on the violin, viola, piano, tion affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Record enrollments and hardangerfele. Holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in violin seven straight years increased undergraduate enrollment by 40 percent from Indiana University, she has performed solo concerts across the while academic quality of the incoming students improved and the low U.S. and overseas. She has toured with the New York Philharmonic, 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio was maintained. A $50 million major the Bolshoi Ballet, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s “White Oak Dance Project,” gifts campaign announced publicly in spring 2002 already had reached and Barbra Streisand’s 1994 concert tour; recorded with the Dave $42 million in gifts and pledges. A campus master plan developed in Matthews Band and Evanescence; performed in the New Mexico and 1996 almost tripled the useable space at the college, and 15 major facil- Seattle symphonies; and been concertmaster of the New York String ities and venues were developed. Five new facilities were constructed, Orchestra.