24 February 2005

Longwood administrator leaving for UNCW

Dr. David Cordle, Longwood University's dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is leaving to accept the same position at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Dr. Cordle, who has been at Longwood since July 1998, will begin his new position July 1. His last day at Longwood is June 24. His wife, Pamela, has been an adjunct member of the Department of Music faculty and served as choir director at Johns Memorial Episcopal Church for several years.

"I am so grateful to Longwood University for the privilege of serving in this position," Dr. Cordle said. "Longwood is a very special place. It offers a great environment for personal growth, and its faculty and staff benefit from that environment just as its students do. I look forward to a new challenge at UNCW, but as a place to work or study, Longwood is second to none. My family and I will miss the many colleagues at the university and friends in Farmville who have made these seven years such a positive experience for us."

A native of Rome, Georgia, Dr. Cordle came to Longwood after serving as chair of the Music Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he worked for more than 12 years. He taught before that at William Woods College in Missouri for four years.

"As Dean Cordle leaves for UNCW, he will not only be missed in his academic position, but we will also miss his musical contributions and those of his wife to Longwood and the community," said Dr. Wayne McWee, interim vice president for academic affairs.

Dr. and Mrs. Cordle are pianists and have often performed duo-recitals. They have a son, Nicholas, a second-year student at the University of Virginia, and a daughter, Katelyn, a senior at Prince Edward County High School. Dr. Cordle is an avid runner who has completed marathons.

Dr. Cordle led the College of Arts and Sciences through a period of growth and expansion (enrollment has increased by 24 percent, and 22 new faculty positions have been added), participated in the planning design of four new academic buildings, led a planning process to define the College's mission, established the Fund for Student Research and Internships to support faculty-directed internships and research and creative projects, and worked with a faculty committee to draft a revision of the General Education Program. "His accomplishments have been significant," Dr. McWee said.