James C. Renick, vice provost for academic initiatives and external affairs at George Mason University, will become chancellor of the U-M-Dearborn.
His appointment, effective Jan. 4, 1993, was approved by the Regents at their November meeting. He also will serve as professor of education and public administration.
Bernard W. Klein has been interim chancellor at U-M-Dearborn since Sept. 1, succeeding Blenda J. Wilson who left the chancellorship to become president of California State University, Northridge.
In recommending Renick to the Regents, President James J. Duderstadt said: “Dr. Renick is a young, bright and energetic leader who will provide vision for the U-M-Dearborn and continue the momentum of its progress under Chancellor Blenda Wilson. His collaborative approach to management, his strong administrative background and experience, and his excellent leadership skills will all serve him well in his new position at the Dearborn campus.
“Dr. Renick is very supportive of faculty concerns. As an academic administrator, his primary responsibilities at George Mason University included the coordination and advancement of academic initiatives and the outreach to the surrounding community to improve access to higher education. And he has been very active in national higher education communities and has worked closely with state officials in areas of higher education.”
Renick was named vice provost at George Mason in 1991, after serving as associate provost and director of the Early Identification Program in 1989–91.
He is senior program coordinator of the United Negro College Fund’s National Leadership and Organizational Development Program and founding faculty leader at the Washington Center in Washington, D.C.
In 1981 he joined the University of South Florida as associate professor of public administration, serving as assistant to the president in 1983–85; assistant dean for administration in the Graduate School and founding educational chair of the Executive Fellows Program in the Institute of Government in 1985–88; and director of the Public Administration Program and Institute of Government in 1988. He was assistant professor of social work at the University of West Florida in 1975–81.
Renick’s teaching areas have included public administration, human service management, executive leadership, strategic planning and public policy.
He has served on the boards of many organizations, including the American Association for Higher Education, the National Minority Leaders Fellowship Program of the Washington Center, the Florida Institute of Government Executive Fellows Educational Advisory Board, and the American Association for Higher Education Black Caucus Executive Board.
Renick received his undergraduate degree from Central State University in Ohio in 1970, his master’s degree in social work from Kansas University in 1972, and a Ph.D. in government/public administration from Florida State University in 1980.
