IWU Names new Vice President For College of Adult and Professional Studies

Dr. Bridget Aitchison, a U.S. citizen who has been involved in Christian higher education in Australia for the past 20 years, has been named Vice President for the College of Adult and Professional Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University.

She will serve as Vice President-elect from July 1 through the end of September to provide a formal period of leadership transition. Beginning October 1, Aitchison will assume the title of Vice President.

"After a rigorous process of interviews, Dr. Aitchison emerged as the clear and compelling person God has called to this crucial leadership position at Indiana Wesleyan University," said Dr. David Wright, IWU Provost.

Aitchison currently is Principal/Chief Executive Officer of Southland College, a private Christian teacher training college in Sydney. The college has an international student body, and Aitchison has served on two global groups that promote Christian education.

Wright said Aitchison has a deep sense of calling to Christian adult higher education.

"This is borne out by her exceptional record of institutional leadership, a strong knowledge of and commitment to the use of new technologies and an extensive network of connections in the cause of global Christian higher education," Wright said.

Aitchison has a bachelor’s degree in theatre studies from the University of New South Wales and a Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong. She previously served as Chair of the Faculty of Drama at Wesley Institute.

Aitchison will succeed Dr. Mike Bonner, who announced plans previously to retire at the end of the 2009-2010 academic year. He will assume a new title and new duties through the end of the academic year, which ends June 30, 2010.

Bonner came to IWU in 2003 to teach in the adult education program and became vice president of the division in 2005. More than 30,000 adult learners have earned degrees since IWU established its College of Adult and Professional Studies in 1985. More than 12,000 students currently are enrolled in adult programs at sites in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky and online.