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| Union President Ed de Rosset is the William Hacker, M.D. Leader of the Year. |
Union College President Chosen as Leader of the Year
The Leadership Tri-County board of directors has selected Edward D. de Rosset, president of Union College, as the organization’s William Hacker, M.D Leader of the Year.
In its press release announcing the award, Leadership Tri-County cited the college’s growth, achievements and performance under President de Rosset’s leadership as reasons for the organization’s selection.
President de Rosset will accept the award and deliver the keynote address at a Leadership Tri-County banquet on Fri., Feb. 19, at the Corbin Center for Technology. For ticket information, contact Leadership Tri-County.
Union has seen growth in several areas since 2003, when President de Rosset was asked to serve as interim president. Applications for admission to Union have increased by 80 percent since then, the number of full-time faculty has increased by 33 percent, and the number of students has increased by 39 percent. The college has added several new programs, including master’s degrees in psychology and undergraduate programs in athletic training, social work, leadership studies and the forthcoming RN-to-BSN program in nursing.
In spite of its growth, Union College and President de Rosset remain committed to students from local and regional communities and to affordability. Sixty-five percent of Union freshmen come from Appalachian counties in Kentucky. The college’s tuition is 22 percent lower than the national average for private colleges, and it awarded nearly $5 million in institutional aid to students in 2008-09.
Leadership Tri-County also cited recent results from the National Study of Student Engagement (NSSE), which indicate that Union outpaces national competitors in key areas. The results reflect the college’s commitment to a one-to-one education, which was renewed and refreshed early in President de Rosset’s tenure. That commitment involves small class sizes, personal attention and close relationships that lead to unique opportunities and an enhanced educational experience for students.
President de Rosset was named president of Union College in 2004 after serving a period as interim president. He was Union’s dean of students and vice president for student life from 1985 through 1999. Between 2000 and 2003, a grant from the Teagle Foundation of New York allowed him to devote much of his energies to community relations and joint projects with and within the community while serving as an assistant to the president. His career in higher education also includes National Business College in Roanoke, Va., and Berea College in Berea, Ky.
The William Hacker, M.D. Leader of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual from Knox, Laurel or Whitley counties whose leadership efforts and accomplishments most closely reflect the mission of Leadership Tri-County. The organization’s mission is to identify and develop leadership resources in the area to create a better and more unified southeastern Kentucky through trust, respect, commitment and service.
