People Watch: Hampshire College, U of SC, Thomas More U attract new talent

Ed Wingenbach heads up Hampshire, Robert Caslen leads in South Carolina and Kevin Reynolds fills newly created exec role in Kentucky

Ed Wingenbach now leads financially troubled Hampshire College (Mass.) following the resignation of Miriam Nelson, who headed Hampshire for less than a year. Nelson was criticized for her plans to merge with another institution and for not admitting a new freshman class to counter declining enrollment and fiscal troubles.

Wingenbach comes from Ripon College (Wis.), where he served as acting president. He is considering stepping up tuition at Hampshire and hopes to raise approximately $100 million in five years. Hampshire only admitted 15 new students for this fall.

Wingenbach created a liberal arts core curriculum at Ripon and established a career and professional development office. In addition, he restructured multiple programs and merged various departments to strengthen cross-disciplinary curricula.


Read: People Watch: MSU taps new president


Other people news:

  • Robert Caslen, a former Army general, now leads the University of South Carolina, which is under scrutiny for Gov. Henry McMaster’s involvement in the hire. 
  • Assistant Vice President for Advancement Kevin Reynolds of Thomas More University (Ky.) has filled a newly created position there: vice president for institutional advancement. 

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