Dr. Henry L. Smith, a native Hoosier, was inaugurated as Indiana Wesleyan University's eighth president in a ceremony at 1:30 p.m., Oct. 6, 2006 on the University's main campus in Marion. The inauguration was a part of homecoming weekend activities.
Indiana Wesleyan is the state's largest private college and recently was recognized by
U.S. News & World Report
as one of the top master's universities in the Midwest.
The inauguration, which was open to the public, was held in Luckey Arena in Indiana Wesleyan's Recreation and Wellness Center.
Dr. Smith, who was born and reared in Frankfort, Ind., spent 25 years in Christian higher education in Illinois and Ohio before returning to Indiana. He was named Indiana Wesleyan's first executive vice president in 2004 and became president-elect a year later.
Dr. Smith took office as Indiana Wesleyan's eighth president on July 1. He succeeded Dr. James Barnes, who was president of the University for 19 years.
The new president has a doctorate in communication from The Ohio State University and has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Cincinnati. He and his wife, Teresa, have three children.
Dr. Smith's parents, Lewis and Mildred Smith, both are ordained ministers in The Wesleyan Church. Lewis Smith founded a Wesleyan church in Frankfort and served as its pastor for 50 years.
Indiana Wesleyan University is an evangelical Christian comprehensive university that was founded in 1920 and is committed to liberal arts and professional education. The University is affiliated with The Wesleyan Church, which has its world headquarters in Fishers, Indiana.
About 2,950 students are enrolled in traditional classes at Indiana Wesleyan's Marion campus. Another 10,000 students are enrolled in adult education programs at sites in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky and online.
Indiana Wesleyan has regional campuses in seven Indiana cities, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Columbus, Shelbyville, Merrillville and Greenwood. The University also has campuses in three Ohio cities, Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland; and two Kentucky campuses, in Louisville and Lexington.
For more information, go to
www.indwes.edu/inauguration
.