Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 25, 1995 TAG: 9502270060
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
After all, he's spent the past 11 years working across the hall from the president's office.
Repeated ovations met the announcement Friday that the long-time dean of the college, John W. Elrod, would become the 256-year-old school's 22nd president. He begins July 1.
Elrod has been the school's chief academic officer since 1984, appointed by departing President John Wilson. Wilson, Virginia Tech's former provost, retires this summer. He led W&L's change to coeducation in 1985.
Although Elrod has been a familiar figure on campus for years, the rector of the university's board of trustees made clear to the crowd of faculty, staff and students in Lee Chapel Friday that Elrod's appointment had not been a foregone conclusion.
"John Elrod earned this appointment against very strong competition," said A. Stevens Miles Jr., the board's rector.
Elrod was unanimously chosen from four finalists by the board Friday morning, following a 13-month national search.
Initially, 137 people were considered for the post.
"I am honored, beyond saying, to be entrusted with the presidency of Washington and Lee University," Elrod said in his acceptance remarks. "It is truly humbling to be asked to assume the office once occupied by Robert E. Lee."
Faculty and students alike painted Elrod as a strong leader who guides but does not push, and creates an atmosphere that allows individuals to grow. Wilson, who said he was "absolutely delighted," added that Elrod would likely keep the school's curriculum and scholarly mission as the centerpiece of his administration.
"He's a faculty member's president, I think," Wilson said.
Professors said Elrod has their full backing.
"The response showed that he has the complete support of faculty, students and trustees," said Lewis John, a professor of politics.
Elrod, who got both his master's degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University, came to W&L from Iowa State University, where he had been chairman of the philosophy department and a noted authority on Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Soon after his arrival, the former men's college decided - amid much controversy - to admit women students.
Since then, the school's star has risen. Just last year, W&L moved from 20th to 15th in U.S. News & World Report's widely watched rankings of the top 25 liberal arts colleges in the country.
Asked how he expected to leave his mark on the school, Elrod said, "You have to take things as they come.
"What I've tried to do is find faculty strengths and interests, and throw kerosene on them," he said.
Elrod is seen as an administrator who understands the culture of the school, including its devotion to a student-run, single-sanction honor system.
He said Friday that he can see a return to the days when W&L held cooperative programs with neighboring Virginia Military Institute, now that the federal courts have agreed to let VMI remain all-male.
But he also savored the moment.
"It will be tempting in the next few months to fall into 'what next?' conversations," Elrod said in his acceptance remarks. "There is still much for us to do; it is quite natural to want to turn to these matters now.
"But I hope that we can be patient about addressing the issues that will face us in the immediate and long-term future. In the next few months, if it were left to me, I would much rather talk about successfully completing the capital campaign, these last 12 glorious years; and in particular, I'd much rather talk about John Wilson and the extraordinary leadership he has provided W&L during his presidency."
The university wraps up a five-year, $127 million capital campaign on June 30. Elrod has been active in the campaign, said university spokesman Brian Shaw.
Student Bill Murray, a chemistry major from Houston, seemed to speak for many students who attended the announcement Friday.
"Elrod looks at things the right way - at the breadth of education. Ideally, when you come out of here, you know a little bit about a lot.
"They've taught you how to think critically," he said.
Elrod's wife, Mimi, also works at the university. She is associate director of the office of special programs, a post she will keep. The couple has two grown sons.
by CNB