Dick Merriman, who has been president of Southwestern College since 1998, will leave Winfield at the end of this academic year to become president of the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.  Merriman’s appointment as president of Mount Union, a United Methodist institution with enrollment of about 2,200 students, was announced this morning.
           
“President Merriman has given us many good years,” said Dr. David Smith, chair of Southwestern’s Board of Trustees. “Personally, I hate to see him go but this is a terrific opportunity for him as well as a wonderful opportunity for another college. His impact on the college has been profound: He came here during a difficult economic climate and led the college with great vision. He will be leaving Southwestern College in a position of strength.” 
           
During his service at Southwestern, Merriman has guided the college through years of unprecedented growth in scope and mission.  
“I’m proud that Southwestern has become a strong comprehensive institution, serving both traditional-age students and adults, offering a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, and providing instruction in a range of formats that meet the needs of a many kinds of students,” Merriman said.  “Our outreach to low-income, minority, and first-generation college students, our growing enrollment of international students, and our service to adult learners have helped make Southwestern a lively and diverse school while increasing the relevance and impact of the college in our region.”
           
Merriman encouraged growth in Professional Studies programs (which are aimed at working adults) and oversaw a transition to online offerings that allow nearly half of the college’s total enrollment to study from around the world via computer. This has been especially attractive to military learners; during Merriman’s presidency SC has been consistently recognized on lists of military-friendly colleges. 
           
The college’s first doctoral degree—a Doctor of Education—was approved by SC’s regional accrediting agency, and now enrolls more than 60 students each semester. In addition, other graduate programs (both on ground and online) have been expanded to make advanced degrees accessible to persons whose geographic or economic conditions would have prevented this in earlier years.
           
President Merriman led two capital campaigns and several project-specific fund drives that raised more than $50 million for college projects. This led to a number of campus improvements—construction of Cole Hall and Richard L. Jantz Stadium; creation of Richardson Performing Arts Center and the TOMARI technical theatre center; significant renovations of Mossman Hall and Deets Library; and the rebuilding of the college’s landmark Mound and 77 Steps. 

In addition, Merriman worked to foster cooperative relationships between the college and the Winfield community, including partnerships for community use of the college swimming pool, joint college and school district funding and use of Jantz Stadium, recent expansion of tennis facilities, and the creation the SC Learning Center for young children in downtown Winfield.  

“All of us at Southwestern are very grateful for the support of the Winfield community and the warm welcome it provides our students,” Merriman said. 
           
The search for a new Southwestern College president is expected to begin after the Christmas break.