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For Immediate Release
February 8 , 2007
nebraska wesleyan announces new president
 LINCOLN, Neb.—Dr. Fred Ohles, Senior Vice President of the Council of Independent Colleges, has been named as the 16th president of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
Nebraska Wesleyan University Board of Governors Chairman Larry Ruth announced the appointment today, following a vote by the University’s governing body.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I welcome Dr. Ohles to campus as our next president,” said Ruth. “Fred Ohles has a superb background in liberal arts education, and I am anxious that he meet our alumni and our many friends. He will have strong campus support and is really a good fit for Nebraska Wesleyan.”
Since September 2006, Dr. Ohles has served as Senior Vice President with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Prior to his appointment as Senior Vice President, Dr. Ohles was Vice President for Advancement with CIC.
Richard Ekman, President of CIC, offered the following endorsement of Dr. Ohles:
“Congratulations to Nebraska Wesleyan University on the selection of Fred Ohles to be its next leader. Fred possesses superb judgment, wide-ranging interests and intellectual curiosity, a sound vision for the future of liberal arts education in America, and enormous integrity. He has served the 600-member institutions of the Council for Independent Colleges with genuine distinction, and will surely bring his broad experience to the new challenges he will face. Nebraska Wesleyan is fortunate indeed.”
Dr. Ohles came to CIC from Wabash College where he was Senior Research Fellow in the Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts. He was Academic Vice President and Professor of History at Illinois College from 1996 to 2002.
Among Dr. Ohles’ key accomplishments are:
- A fund-raising effort for the Council of Independent Colleges that garnered $5.2 million in two years;
- New corporate sponsorship opportunities for CIC;
- Special appeal for CIC’s 50th anniversary to increase sponsorship dollars raised and the number of contributors;
- Facilitation of a fast-tracked $10 million science building project at Illinois College — from concept to groundbreaking in 36 months;
- Development of a college-wide comprehensive plan at Illinois College to improve student persistence to graduation.
“It’s a great honor to have been selected to lead Nebraska Wesleyan,” said Dr. Ohles. “I’ve known about the University and its accomplishments for years. It’s the kind of institution — both caring and committed to excellence — where students get the kind of personal attention that helps them to grow in mind and spirit. I’m impressed too by the great devotion and concern for the University shown by its alumni.” He added, “I can’t wait to start.”
Dr. Ohles graduated from Carleton College and earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in comparative history at Brandeis University. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two daughters, Andrea and Erika, who are both in high school.
Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Presidential Search Committee was co-chaired by Brad Korell, Secretary of Nebraska Wesleyan University’s Board of Governors and Chief Financial Officer at Olsson Associates, and Robyn Henderson, President of the Wesleyan Alumni Association and Executive Director of the Southeast Nebraska Area Health Education Center. The committee was made up of 14 representatives of the University’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
Dr. Ohles is expected to begin as President on July 1st.
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