Dr. Wade Edwards, a longtime professor of French at Longwood who has served as associate dean of the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences since 2018, has been named the next dean of the largest college at the university.
Edwards was selected following a national search of candidates. He is known across campus as a thoughtful and considered leader who has focused his attention on curriculum, student success in and out of the classroom, a commitment to academic excellence and student retention and persistence.
Dr. Edwards emerged as the leader with both the familiarity and vision to lead the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences forward in a world of intense pressure on the liberal arts.
Dr. Larissa Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs
“Dr. Edwards emerged as the leader with both the familiarity and vision to lead the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences forward in a world of intense pressure on the liberal arts and sciences,” said Dr. Larissa Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “His vision is one of collaboration, mutual respect and a firm belief in Longwood’s mission to educate citizen leaders. He has the skill and, as importantly, the energy to take the helm of Longwood’s oldest and largest college.”
Edwards will take over in June for Dean Roger Byrne, who announced his retirement at the beginning of the fall semester. Byrne has led Cook-Cole since 2016.
In a presentation to campus during the search process, Edwards described his vision of the future of the Cook-Cole College for Arts and Sciences: “A college that is certain of itself and steadfast in its commitment to the Commonwealth, a college that students cherish the chance to attend. It is a crossroads where young people learn to make consequential decisions and a lighthouse that stands for hope.”
Edwards joined the Longwood faculty in 2002, and served as chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages for five years. In 2009, he was part of the team that created the Blackwell Talks, monthly presentations of faculty research that highlight important academic work across disciplines and encourage collaborative, thoughtful discussion. He also served on the Academic Strategic Plan and Academic Core Curriculum committees that conceived of and developed the Civitae Core Curriculum, an academic architecture that puts interdisciplinary learning, communication and citizenship at its heart.
After Civitae was approved, Edwards was named Associate Dean of Cook-Cole in 2018. As Associate Dean, he serves on the Care Team, the First-Generation Working Group and the University Planning Council Retention Committee. He is also the faculty representative for both the Truman and Goldwater scholarships, two of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships available to undergraduate students. In 2023, with his guidance, Longwood’s first-ever Truman Scholar was named, alongside its second Goldwater Scholar.
In 2022, Edwards was named co-chair of the President’s Task Force on Retention, which produced a study and recommendations on improving retention and on-time graduation rates at Longwood. The study’s recommendations included strengthening student academic support services at Longwood, engaging with parents of at-risk students and developing a forward-thinking approach to advising.
Wade Edwards is someone who deeply loves Longwood and knows and celebrates her strengths. He is entwined with this community and has long been someone that students, fellow faculty and staff can look to for guidance and a can-do attitude that has led to some of the most consequential changes at the university in a generation.
President W. Taylor Reveley IV
“Wade Edwards is someone who deeply loves Longwood and knows and celebrates her strengths,” said President W. Taylor Reveley IV. “He is invested in this community and has long been someone that students, fellow faculty and staff can look to for guidance and a can-do attitude, which has helped Longwood flourish and innovate. The development of Civitae is a forefront example, putting our liberal arts mission squarely at the center of every student's education. Cook-Cole — and Longwood — are lucky to have him lead the College into these promising years ahead.”
Recently elected president of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society, Edwards is published widely in French studies journals and is known in the field for his work in inclusive instructional practices in language learning. Among his publications is Disability and World Language Learning: Inclusive Teaching for Diverse Learners, which he co-authored in 2019.
Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree in French and business administration from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s of arts in French literature from Miami University (Ohio) and a Ph.D. in French literature and gender studies from the University of Virginia. Edwards and his wife, Heather, who is a senior lecturer in French at Longwood, have two adult children and live in Farmville.
The search committee was led by Dr. Brent Roberts, dean of Greenwood Library and assistant provost for academic outreach, and comprised of Dr. David Magill, professor of English and chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages, Dr. Eric Hodges, associate professor of political science, Dr. Sarah Porter, associate professor of chemistry, and senior music major Miyah Speller '26.