Wentworth Military
Academy and College’s Board of Trustees
accepted the resignation of Wentworth President Bill Sellers in its meeting on
Saturday, May 4.
"Bill has worked tirelessly to build a positive
atmosphere on campus, to grow enrollment, and to create a stronger foundation
for Wentworth’s future growth," said Wentworth Board Chairman Robert Heath.
“I feel like I have accomplished what I set out to do," said
Sellers. "Shortly after I arrived, our team put together a strategic plan
with five areas of focus – academics, recruiting, business operations, campus
life, and institutional advancement – and we’ve made progress in all areas.”
Sellers took over as President in December 2008 when
enrollment was at 155 cadets, its lowest point since the 1930s. On campus enrollment has since grown over
50% to 238 cadets -- its highest level in two decades. Sellers brought in Bob Harmon as Admissions
Director in December 2011. "The admissions team is
doing an outstanding job recruiting – locally, nationally and
internationally," commented Sellers.
College enrollment is at its highest level in Wentworth’s history,
with 334 full-time students. Including
part-time students, the college enrolls about 1,000 students a year. The commuter population from the
Lafayette/Ray County area is now at an all-time high, as is online
enrollment. "I grew up here in Lexington and have placed
a major emphasis on creating a great relationship between the local region and
the school. We have done that,” Sellers
said.
Wentworth had only nine foreign students back in 2008. “We now have 14 countries represented, and next
year, we anticipate having over 60 international cadets on campus. The diversity of our student body is one of
the strongest aspects of our program,” said Sellers.
The primary emphasis of Sellers’ tenure has been to improve
academic offerings. “Wentworth has a
number of important aspects to its mission, including producing more officers
for the Army and the Missouri National Guard than any institution in the
state. But nothing is more important
than our academic program. We are
constantly assessing and improving the quality of the education we are
providing to the future leaders of our country.
Just this last fall, we had a very successful focused visit from the
Higher Learning Commission, our regional accrediting agency. The team that visited our campus noted
qualitative and quantitative improvements in all areas evaluated. Tim Casey, our College Dean, and Joe Aull,
our High School Principal and Vice President of Academic Affairs, are both as
professional and dedicated as any educators I have encountered around the
country, and they have done a tremendous job.”
Sellers served a term as president of the Association of
Military Colleges and Schools of the United States. He also was the first Wentworth president ever to serve on the Presidential
Advisory Committee to Missouri's Coordinating
Board for Higher Education. Wentworth
now has a number of student transfer agreements with colleges and high schools
around the state and nationally as a result.
Wentworth also increased its fundraising by 33% under Sellers,
despite the economic downturn that began in October 2008. “Even though the recession had started just
before I came to Wentworth, our alumni base has been generous in supporting the
school,” Sellers stated. The school has
been able to invest over $1 million in facilities upgrades as a result. Sellers added, “Wentworth needs to continue
the expansion of that fundraising support, so that it can retain its leadership
role in regional education and enhance its national reputation as the premier
school of its type in the Midwest.”
Another accomplishment during Sellers’ tenure was the restart
of the college athletic program. Wentworth
is now one of the top NJCAA programs in the Midwest. Sellers brought in Athletic Director Tom
Hughes in 2011 to rebuild the school’s athletic offerings. "I am so proud of what Tom has been able
to accomplish, not only as athletic director, but also as coach of the NJCAA Region
XVI basketball co-champions in only the second year of the program’s
reinstatement," added Sellers. "There
is a whole new atmosphere on campus because of our college soccer, volleyball,
basketball, wrestling, track and baseball programs for our young men and women.”
Wentworth was founded by Sellers’ great-great-great
grandfather, Stephen G. Wentworth in 1880, and has been headed by four
generations of the Sellers family.
"It has meant so much to me to lead the school that was also led by
my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather," stated Sellers.
"And it's been an honor to work with so many good people
at Wentworth, especially Superintendent Mike Lierman. Mike has done so much for Wentworth as Chief
Operating Officer and has provided the foundation for us to accomplish all that
we did over the last five years. I also
owe a huge debt of gratitude to Operations Officer Rick Cottrell, Vice
President of Institutional Advancement Dan Ryan, Dean of Students Darren
Fitzgerald, Executive Assistant Becky Markley, Public Relations Director Kevin
Farley, International Director Cristhina Starke, IT Director Logan Seals, and
many others. Whatever challenges
Wentworth may yet face, I truly believe that its best days are ahead of it.”
Sellers said that departing Wentworth would be difficult. "My family and I have mixed emotions
about leaving. We have been so embraced
by the local community, and we will miss it," he explained. "I am weighing a number of options for
our future, but look forward to spending time with my family first."
"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank
Bill for his dedicated service to Wentworth," said Chairman Robert Heath. Sellers will formally step down after
Wentworth’s graduation on May 18. Heath
added that COL Mike Lierman will serve as Interim President while the Board
searches for a new President.
