by Jennifer Schneider
Staff Writer
Vice Chancellor for Student Development and professor of human development
and psychological counseling, Dr. Gregory S. Blimling has been elected
as president of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).
“I have been a member of the ACPA for 30 years,” Blimling
said. “I am very excited about the opportunity to work with
my colleges at ACPA.”
“This is a really interesting time when lots of change is
wanted,” Senior Research Associate of the Living Learning
Center Dr. Lee B. Williams said. “Blimling is well published
and has a great reputation for being very productive.”
Blimling is the author of 11 books and more than 100 additional
scholarly contributions in higher education.
“Greg has been a great asset to the profession contributing
through a variety of academic work including books, journal articles,
research and related scholarly activity,” Director of the
Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL) Dino J. DiBernardi
said.
“Blimling has been involved with the ACPA in a variety of
leadership positions,” Williams said.
Blimling, who has served as Appalachian State University’s
vice chancellor for 14 years, has helped the university gain national
recognition as a student-centered university.
He is nationally recognized for his scholarship and leadership in
student affairs and aided in building a student affairs program
that is recognized as one of the best in the country.
“He is very well respected in the profession and a recognized
expert in student development theory and practice,” DiBernardi
said. “This expertise has benefited the students of Appalachian
where under his leadership programs and services designed to complement
the mission of the university and enhance the learning experiences
of our students have been expanded.”
In 2002, Blimling was awarded the national Contribution to Knowledge
Award for his significant contribution to the creating of knowledge
about college students and higher education.
“He is really visionary,” Williams said. “We need
someone who sees the big picture and will take the association in
a different direction instead of just maintaining it.”
Blimling has been a senior scholar of ACPA for six years. Founded
in 1924, ACPA advances college student learning through research
and the dissemination of knowledge to its members. They practice
and program for higher education by shaping policies.
“The organization has a history of providing excellent programs
and service, my hope is to continue these actions and help the organization
grow,” Blimling said.
The organization is the nation’s leading professional organization
for almost 8,000 higher education and student affairs administrators,
faculty, college counselors and graduate students that work on American
and international campuses.
“Dr. Blimling’s election is not only recognition for
his outstanding personal contributions to the field, but also for
the reputation of the quality faculty and staff of the University,”
DiBernardi said.
Blimling will begin his term at the association’s annual convention
in Philadelphia in April and will be installed as president in March
2005.
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