College President receives Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas Lutheran University

Dr. Wayne B. Powell, president of Lenoir-Rhyne College, recently received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Texas Lutheran University.

In selecting him to receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the TLU Board of Regents cited his "outstanding record of achievement and service in higher education, both as a respected scholar and professor of mathematics, and as a dedicated and effective administrator."

In 2000, Powell joined Lenoir-Rhyne College as vice president and dean for academic affairs. In this position, he provided effective leadership in academic programs - including a college-wide curriculum review and establishment of a retention program; faculty development; budgetary matters; and securing external funds to support campus initiatives in science education, faculty scholarship, equipment, diversity and other targeted programs.

In October 2002, he was named the 11th president of Lenoir-Rhyne, and he took office on Dec. 1 that year. Powell has been recognized by the Council of Graduate Schools and other organizations for his innovative approaches to building diversity in education, especially in science and mathematics.

Powell earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from TLU in 1971. He earned his master's degree in mathematics from Texas A&M in 1973, and his Ph.D. in mathematics from Tulane University in 1978.

He began his teaching career at the University of Kansas in 1978, then joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University in 1980. Over the next 20, years he held the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor and professor of mathematics at OSU, where he taught and did research on ordered structures, universal algebra, and abstract language theory. From 1992 to 2000, he served as associate dean and then dean of the OSU Graduate College, where he was chief administrator for the university's 4,600-student graduate program.

Powell and his wife, Joyce, are the parents of three children and are members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Established in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne College is a private, coeducational college located in Hickory, N.C. It is affiliated with the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is open to students from all religious backgrounds. Undergraduate degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of music education in more than 60 majors and concentrations. Graduate degrees are offered in education, business administration, counselor education and occupational therapy. The college's Web site is www.lrc.edu.

©2006 Lenoir-Rhyne College