BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College bid farewell to interim president Charles Warren during a formal reception on campus, June 22.
With just days remaining in the interim leader's temporary tenure with the school, the BC family took time to recognize the influence his leadership will have on the institution.
“We truly believe that Dr. Warren was sent by God to Bluefield College,” said Dan Grabeel, chairman of the BC board of trustees, during the gathering designed to pay tribute to the provisional leader. “He has been an excellent interim president. One sure sign of successful leadership is to leave the job better than you found it. Dr. Warren has certainly done that.”
BLUEFIELD PHOTO
Bluefield College interim president Charles Warren and his wife, Nancy, are greeted with a surprise farewell reception.
Warren came to Bluefield College in August of 2006 to serve as interim president shortly after the departure of President Dan MacMillan. A retired Christian educator and native of Bluefield, W. Va., Warren brought to BC more than 35 years of Christian higher education experience, including more than 14 years as a college president.
In less than one year at Bluefield, Warren led the school in the creation of a new forensics science major for traditional students and a new marketing major for adults in the degree-completion program. He also spearheaded the renewal or development of articulation agreements with three regional community colleges and one medical school. In addition, he played a key role in acquiring a $150,000 gift from the Shott Foundation for improvements to the college's library and a $200,000 gift from the Keesee Fund for student scholarships.
Under Warren's tenure, Bluefield College also established a football feasibility study group to explore the return of football on campus and a partnership with the town of Bluefield to study the creation of a new student/community activities center.
Dozens of faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees and friends filled BC's board room in Lansdell Hall during the reception to share the same sentiments with the outgoing president, his wife and mother, Hazel Warren, who still resides in Bluefield.
“This has been a year of ‘we' and ‘our,' not ‘me,' ” Warren said in response to the accolades. “You — the faculty, staff, trustees, alumni and friends — are the ones who make this such a special place. Thank you for the blessing of being a part of your family this year.”
As part of the school's expression of gratitude, just weeks earlier, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni and friends established the Charles O. Warren, Jr. Scholarship Fund.
To contribute to the fund, call the BC office of institutional advancement at 276-326-4211.
Warren's official last day of service to BC was June 30. He was replaced on July 1 by David Olive, who was an executive vice president and chief operating officer at Pfieffer University in Charlotte, N.C.