David J. Prior was officially inaugurated as the seventh chancellor of the University of Virginia's College at Wise last Friday.
More than 800 faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the College attended the event.
President John T. Casteen, III delivered the keynote address and Virginia Secretary of Education Thomas R. Morris also participated in the inauguration.
"It was an event that literally brought people from all across the country," said Jean Meade-Dean, Director of U.Va-Wise College Relations.
Prior replaces Ernest H. Ern, who served as chancellor for one year after the resignation of former chancellor Steven H. Kaplan.
Ern said Prior exemplifies the qualities sought by selection committee.
We wanted "someone who was innovative in his thinking to work very, very closely with the faculty, and a person who would be a leader as well as an individual who would be very comfortable with members of the student body," Ern said. Prior "understands the relationship between the College at Wise and the University."
Prior unofficially replaced Ern as chancellor in September 2005.
"There was a six-month-long search process, and there was a search committee on campus," Meade-Dean said. "That committee made a recommendation to Casteen and then he made his recommendation to the Board of Visitors."
In his inaugural speech, Prior emphasized his commitment to student life in international and multicultural experiences, undergraduate research and rededication to communication.
"First, we intend to significantly expand the number of opportunities for students to increase their global awareness," Prior said. "Second, we will increase the opportunities for our students to participate in independent research projects [that go] beyond the classroom. ... Thirdly, we will reaffirm our commitment to the development of communication skills ... [so] that our students are successful professionals and agile life-long learners."
Prior graduated from the University in 1972 with a Ph.D. in biology. Before Wise, he spent seven years as an administrator at the University of Wisconsin's College at Superior.
Prior said he was "very excited to return to U.Va. There is a tremendous sense of pride here."
In addition to his plans for improving student life at Wise, Prior is also looking to expand the Wise's engineering curriculum, specifically in software engineering.
He said he plans "to increase its visibility and strengthen the technology and science areas."
University Rector Thomas F. Farrell II said with Prior as chancellor, Wise's program in software engineering will help the development of a state computer programming center.
"He was instrumental--along with several others--with the College at Wise through the State Council of Higher Education (SHEV) with developing this software engineering program," Farrell said. "The college will be able to produce the necessary software engineers to become employees at that data center."
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