Ann Federlein, president of the Newark campus at Ohio State and the Central Ohio Technical College, announced she is accepting a position at Kentucky Wesleyan College yesterday for the 2004-05 year. Federlein will be the first female president in Kentucky Wesleyan’s history.
“We’re sad she’s leaving,” said Teri Holder, spokeswoman for the Newark campus. “Over the past few years, she’s been highly pursued for her successes at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College.”
Since 1999, Federlein opened the Reese Center, raised $10 million for the new student union and library – which is still in its planning stages – and increased enrollment at both schools, Holder said.
She will be replacing Wesley Poling at Kentucky Wesleyan, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Besides Federlein, Kentucky Wesleyan was interested in Allen Meadors, chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Penebrook.
“It was a very tough decision,” said Jack Wells, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Kentucky Wesleyan. “We saw her leadership, skills, attitude and personality – it worked well on our campus.”
According to the Ohio Board of Regents, in terms of enrollment, COTC is the fastest growing college in Ohio.
Federlein has disclosed no specific plans for the future of Kentucky Wesleyan.
“She will have more concrete plans once she gets here,” said Roy Pickerill, spokesman for Kentucky.
Students at the Newark campus have not reacted well, said Molly Moehring, president of the Undergraduate Student Government at Newark.
“(There is a) general feeling of shock on campus,” Moehring said. “She is the best president in a long time.”
