THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 10, 1995 TAG: 9501100312
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Stephen S. Mansfield, a longtime history professor at Virginia Wesleyan College, has been named interim vice president of academic affairs and dean of the college.
He will replace William M. Wilson, who was killed in a car accident on his way home from church on Christmas.
``He knows the college inside and out,'' President William T. ``Billy'' Greer Jr. said Monday. ``Most important, though, is his personality. Bill Wilson was a warm, caring, compassionate, quiet, sensitive, thoughtful man, and I would say all those same things about Steve Mansfield.
``My main concern is that we bring this college, this family, through this grieving process in a healthy way, and I believe Stephen will do that.''
Wilson, who was 64, had been the chief overseer of academics at the Methodist-affiliated college since 1971.
Wesleyan will begin a national search for a successor. Greer said he hoped to fill the position by fall, but would not set a deadline.
``The luxury we have right now is that we have Stephen Mansfield, who not only can hold the position,'' Greer said, ``but can provide good, strong leadership.''
Mansfield, 52, has taught history at Wesleyan since 1968, two years after the college opened. He has a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree and doctorate from the University of Virginia.
He also served as interim vice president in the 1970-71 school year before Wesleyan hired Wilson. Mansfield wrote ``Princess Anne County and Virginia Beach: A Pictorial History,'' published in 1989.
Mansfield said Monday that he was not a candidate for the full-time job. ``I'd be happy to move back to history,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Mansfield
KEYWORDS: VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE INTERIM DEAN by CNB