Wofford founded 1854

Wofford Chronology 2000- 2009 

July 1, 2000— Benjamin Bernard Dunlap becomes the 10^th president of Wofford College following the retirement of Joab M. Lesesne Jr.

April 24, 2001- In impressive ceremonies, President Dunlap is inaugurated and the Roger Milliken Science Center is formally opened

October 6, 2001- The 150^th anniversary of laying the Main Building cornerstone is celebrated at Homecoming.  In November, the restored Meneely college bell rings to commemorate Founder’s Day.

2001- The National Science Foundation awards a grant to Dr. Angela Shiflet, Dr. George Shiflet and others to develop a pioneering program in Computational Science.

2001- Professors Ellen Goldey and John Lane ’77 develop a distinctive first-year learning community to study “the Nature and Culture of Water.” Learning communities have since matured and flourished at Wofford. In November 2003, the college hosted an important “Learning Communities Open House” for representatives from colleges and universities across the country.

May 24, 2001- Dr. Ted Monroe is elected president of the Southern Conference for 2001-2002. Monroe serves 13 years as Wofford faculty athletics representative before stepping down in 2006. Dr. Jameica Hill ’88 is his successor.

Sept. 11, 2001- Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and commercial airliners kill hundreds of Americans, including James A. Trentini ’59 and his wife.   The Rev. Lyndon Harris ’83 is recognized for his heroic leadership at St. Paul’s Chapel, Trinity Episcopal Parish, near Ground Zero.

Nov. 9, 2001— The college establishes a new President’s Advisory Board, which holds its inaugural meeting on the campus and hears a presentation from Dr. Robert Remini, a former Lewis Jones visiting professor of history.

Nov. 13, 2001—Danny Morrison ’75 leaves Wofford to become Commissioner of the Southern Conference; Dr. David Wood is promoted to senior vice president and assumes his duties.

January 2002— After renovation, the first floor in the Burwell Building reopens, providing impressive dining, seminar and conference spaces.

January 7, 2002— Drawings begin for prizes in the South Carolina Education Lottery, which partially funds Palmetto Fellows and LIFE merit scholarships.

April 2002— Liz Scarborough’s Tangle is chosen as the 2002 Benjamin Wofford Prize student novella. She also is selected as one of 12 winners in the annual 2003 South Carolina Fiction Project. After graduation, she serves in the Peace Corps in Cape Verde, West Africa.

April 2002—Student Body President Ben Foster ’02, a star on the football team, wins the Arthur Ashe Award and is featured in Black Issues in Higher Education magazine.  Jenny Nett ’02 is the SoCon Player of the Year in women’s basketball.

May 19, 2002— John H. Waller Jr. ’59, E.C. Burnett III ’64, and Costa M. Pleicones ’65 receive honorary Doctor of Laws degrees at commencement. For several years, three of the five Justices of the South Carolina Supreme Court are Wofford alumni.

Sept. 2002— An orientation innovation, “The Novel Experience” gives first-year students a chance to enjoy Spartanburg restaurants as well as interact with a contemporary author. The first book in the series is “Middle Passage,” by Charles Johnson.

Sept. 25, 2002— Preceding a game between Wofford and the University of Maryland, The New York Times publishes a favorable feature story on Terrier football, written by Joe Drape.

Nov. 15, 2002— Wofford opens its campus-wide arboretum, later named to honor Trustee Roger Milliken.  Over the decade from 1992-2002, more than 4,500 “noble trees” are planted on the campus.

November 2002 — The Terriers wrap up a 9-3 football season and are ranked number 13 in the final ESPN/USA Today poll.  J.R. McNair ’04 is named to the American Football Coaches Association “Good Works” team.

November 2002 — Based on outstanding scores on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Wofford is chosen to participate in Project DEEP, a national study of effective ways to enhance student learning.

December 2002— Dr. Ellen Goldey is named Outstanding Educator of the Year by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation.

January 2003— Replacing the retiring Dr. Talmage Skinner ’56, Dr. Ron Robinson ’78 becomes Perkins-Prothro Chaplain and Professor of Religion.

September 2003— Wofford begins offering a major in theatre, and Dr. Mark Ferguson ’94 joins the faculty to head the program.

October 2003— At Homecoming, Theatre Workshop alumni honor the recently retired Dr. J.R. Gross with the dedication of Cascading Steps on Liberty Trail. A  project of special interest to Trustee Roger Milliken, the Liberty Trail is called by one architect, “one of the best examples of environmental sculpture in the past decade.”

Oct. 21, 2003— The Watson-Brown Foundation provides $1.4 million for the renewal of Leonard Auditorium, the keystone of the restoration project for “Old Main.”  Work inside Andrews Field House includes the Anna Todd Wofford Center, providing an attractive new center for sorority life.

Nov. 15, 2003— Wofford edges Furman 7-6 to close out a perfect 8-0 Southern Conference football campaign. The Terriers go on to win two playoff games to reach the national semifinals. Senior Safety Matt Nelson ’04 is named the SoCon Male Athlete of the Year for 2003-2004, and Mike Ayers wins the annual Eddie Robinson Award, which goes to the outstanding head coach in NCAA Division I-AA.

December 2003— Jimmy and Marsha Gibbs of Spartanburg make a gift of $1.4 million to launch Wofford’s Success Initiative. The program provides scholarship aid for students who participate in exploratory learning and experiences based on critical thinking, communications, creativity and strategic analysis.

January 2004— Recognizing Wofford’s advanced Spanish with community-based learning project, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education honors Wofford and Dr. Laura Barbas Rhoden with a 2003-2004 Service Learning Award.

January 2004— Having received a Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) Student Recognition Award for study and work on the Pak Moon Village in Thailand, Allyn Steele ’05 is named to the USA Today College Academic Team, (second team) designating him as one of the 60 top college seniors across the country. (Kris Neely ’02 and Allison Gibson ’03 previously had been honorable mention USA Team selections.)

Feb. 7, 2004— Wofford plays the University of South Carolina in the opening game on Russell C. King Field. Switzer Stadium also is a key to bringing college baseball back to the campus.

Feb. 16, 2004— The “Reeves Challenge” is successfully met, raising $3 million for new endowed professorships.  The initial commitment of $1 came from the Reeves Foundation of Summit, N.J.

February 2004— The Liberty Corporation, Wofford College and the Aspen Institute launch the Liberty Fellowship program to empower state and national leaders to reach their full potential.  Wofford begins hosting Liberty Fellowship seminars on Oct. 6-10, 2005.

May 2004— At Commencement, Dr. Ellen Goldey is the first recipient of the new Roger Milliken Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science.  In 2005, a second award for teaching excellence in the humanities is established in honor of the late Dean of the College Philip S. Covington.  The first recipient is Dr. Nancy Mandlove.

May 2004— Kris Roof ’06 is elected as one of five board members of the United Methodist Church’s Division on Ministries with Young People. He continues to work in the field of youth ministry after graduation from the Duke Divinity School.

September 2004— Thanks to the generosity of Trustee Grant Peacock and the Peacock Family Foundation, Wofford is able to offer courses in Chinese, the first step toward offering a major. Dr. Li Qing Kennison comes to Wofford from Colby College to organize the program.

Dec. 18, 2004 — For the first time, Wofford hosts the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas at Gibbs Stadium.

September 2004— At opening convocation, President Dunlap announces the creation of the John C. Cobb Endowed Chair in the Humanities. Members of the Wofford professor’s family provided $2.5 million for this memorial tribute to an outstanding teacher and alumnus. The first Cobb Professors, Michael Curtis and Elizabeth Cox, join the faculty in the fall of 2005.

February 2005— The new “Ben Wofford Bookstore” opens, and renovations in the Campus Life Building create an exciting new student gathering place, “the Commons,” and an upgraded “Zach’s” for casual dining.

March 2005— Wofford is featured in “Student Success in College: Creating Conditions that Matter” by George D. Kuh, et. al.  Representing an important analysis of how 21^st century college students experience “engaged learning,” the book is the formal benchmarking report of Project DEEP. A revised edition of this text is due out in 2010.

April 2005— The College Bowl team, coached by Dr. Natalie Grinnell and Dr. Mark Byrnes, represents Region 5 in the annual national tournament in Seattle, Wash.  Wofford’s team captain, Benjamin Ingram ’05, is one of eight members of the all-tournament team and takes home the Pat Moonen Sportsperson Award.

July 2005—The Corella and Bertram Bonner Foundation of Princeton, N.J., gives $4.5 million to make Wofford one of only 14 campuses where the Bonner Scholars program is permanently endowed. Bonner has operated at Wofford since 1991, giving students an opportunity to “learn to serve while serving to learn.”

August 2005— A new residence hall that features suite-style housing opens on Evins Street and is named to honor President Emeritus Joab M. Lesesne Jr.  It is located adjacent to Wightman Hall, which opened in 1999.

October 2005— Wofford launches the public phase of a $105 million fund-raising campaign for endowment, programs and facilities, scheduled to conclude by Oct. 31, 2009. Jerry Richardson ’59 chairs the campaign, with Hugh Lane and Harold Chandler ’71 serving as co-chairs.

September 2005- January 2006— With financial support from the Watson-Brown Foundation, Professors Deno Trakas and John Lane co-teach a course and a Interim project on regional writing and cuisine, “From Cornbread to Sushi.” The students’ work becomes the basis for permanent video archives and an exceptional printed anthology, published by Holocene Press (1906).

March 2006— Robert Merting ’06 and Jonathan Puryear ’07 make a presentation to the annual Austrian Scholars Conference at the Ludwig von Mises Institute.  The program was based on their work on the oil industry during the January Interim.

April 20, 2006— Marian Wright Edleman speaks at a special convocation as she receives the college’s first Sandor Teszler Award for Moral Courage and Service to Humankind.

May 2006— For the first time in the 22-year history of the program, President Dunlap names two Presidential International Scholars, Ivy Farr ’08 and Elise Boos ’08. This award for a year of travel and study of a global topic goes to the rising senior who is “the singular student best fitted to benefit humankind.”

May 2006— An impressive outdoor pavilion on the northwest side of the campus opens with an event honoring the senior class of 2006.

June 2006 — Thomas Pierce ’06 is one of three recent college graduates to receive a National Public Radio Kroc Fellowship. He goes on to become a full-time producer for NPR, based in Washington but with worldwide responsibilities.

June 2006— Associate Dean of Students Beth Wallace ’82 receives the annual Bob E. Leach Award for Outstanding Service to Students, presented by Region III of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.

June 2006— Part of a consortium with Converse, Agnes Scott and UNC-Asheville, Wofford is chosen by the New York-based Teagle Foundation to develop a model for what 21^st century liberal arts colleges are actually achieving in terms of student learning.

June-August 2006— Thanks to a grant from the Fullerton Foundation, Wofford faculty and 21 students spend the summer doing research as members of a “Community of Scholars.”  Vanessa Lauber ’08 presents her summer research on women writers at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in April 2007, and other students publish articles and made presentations throughout the year.

September 2006— Reflecting the vision and dedication of Trustee Michael S. Brown ’76 to creating a richer student life experience at Wofford, Phase I of “The Village” opens.  Phase II follows in 2007; phase III in 2008; and phase IV in 2009.  Altogether, the complex has 400 beds, providing housing for the entire senior class. Featuring a Charleston-style architectural scheme, a redesigned streetscape along Evins Street, and many features of the “new urban” lifestyle, Wofford’s concept for apartment-style housing is an award-winning success.  Brown also initiates the “Fun Fund” to create a lively social environment for all students.

September 2006 — Stewart Mungo ’74 and Steven Mungo ’81 of Columbia announce a $1.9 million gift to the college for several endowed funds.

Feb. 5, 2007— A new golf training center for men and women opens in Andrews Field House.

Feb. 19, 2007— With all phases of a three-year, $8 million interior renovation program completed, the college community participates in a joyous reopening celebration for Main Building. The college commissions South Carolina native Nikky Finney to write a poetic tribute to the enslaved builders of “Old Main” that becomes the centerpiece of a memorial in the east tower.

March 2007—President Dunlap shares the story of Sandor Teszler, the Hungarian Holocaust survivor who taught him about passionate living and lifelong learning, at the annual TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference in Monterey, Calif.  Thousands of people around the world watch as the video goes viral on the World Wide Web. Dunlap’s article based on that speech, “The Story of a Passionate Life,” is published in the February 2009 edition of Reader’s Digest.

May 2007— The Wofford baseball team sweeps five consecutive games in the Southern Conference tournament to claim the championship and advance to the NCAA Regionals. Terrier third baseman Brandon Waring ’08 is the conference tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

June 12-15, 2007— More than 400 visitors from across the United States participate in the biannual conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment (ASLE) on the Wofford campus. Over the course of the year, Wofford also hosts meetings of the American Association of Teachers of German, the Southeastern Medieval Association, and the Revolutionary War Cavalry Conference.

July 2007— Dr. James E. Proctor ’67 is named the first Reeves Family Professor in Finance, and Dr. Dennis Wiseman is appointed as Reeves Family Professor in French.

July 2007— For the first time, Wofford offers an exciting new summer residential experience for high school students, “Shared Worlds.”

March 27, 2007— The founder of Partners in Health, Dr. Paul Farmer, inspires the campus community as he visits with faculty and students and accepts the Sandor Teszler Award.

August 2007— Dr. David Wood becomes the new Dean of the College, as Dr. Dan Maultsby ’61 retires after serving in that post for 27 years. Robert L. Keasler is named senior vice president for internal operations.

Nov. 3, 2007— Young alumni honor retired vice president Larry T. McGehee by creating a book fund in his honor.

Nov. 24, 2007—The Terriers defeat the Montana Grizzlies 23-22 in a memorably frigid playoff game to advance to the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. Coach Mike Ayers completes his 20^th season as head coach with an 8-3 overall record and a share of the SoCon football championship.

December 2007— Laura and Winston Hoy establish a new endowed professorship in the Department of English, to be filled by a scholar in Southern literature and culture.  Dr. Deno Trakas is the first faculty member to hold this position.

Feb. 19, 2008— Trustee D. Michael James ’73 establishes an endowed professorship in finance. He also supports the James Fund, an organization that offers students real-life investment experience by managing a stock portfolio. James serves on the investment advisory committee of the board and has been a generous contributor to academic program and scholarship funds.

May 2008— Wofford acquires the former Cumming Street School building and adjacent administrative complex from Spartanburg County School District 7. During the following summer months, the physical plant office relocates into these quarters.

June 2008— Tramaine Brown ’10 is selected for summer program of the National Institute for Inspired Leadership at Georgetown University.  He is also honored with a regional Jefferson Award for his work with the Math Academy at Spartanburg’s Cleveland Elementary School.

July 1, 2008— Dr. Ellen Goldey is elected as a 2008-2009 SENCER Leadership Fellow by the National Center for Science and Civic Education.

September 2008— Renovations inside the Richardson Physical Activities Building create an appealing new look and more space for student activities.

Fall 2008 — Panic in financial markets and a sharp decline in equity values signal the beginning of a prolonged recession that affects all aspects of college administration and finance.

Oct. 11, 2008— At Homecoming, retired Vice Presidents Dr. Dan Maultsby and Dr. Larry McGehee, are recognized as two housing units in the Wofford village are named in their honor.

Dec. 31, 2008— Having surpassed its $105 million goal, the Campaign for Wofford ends a year early. The final accounting reflects funding for 142 new scholarships and 11 new professorships as well as more than $15 million for new facilities.

January 2009 — In keeping with its commitment as a signatory to the Presidents Climate Commitment, on-going Wofford building projects in 2009 reflect an emphasis on sustainability. New facilities that open during the year include a greenhouse funded in part with a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation as well as the Joe E. Taylor Athletic Center with its Brittain Plaza gateway and 7,000- square foot weight training area. Thanks to a gift from the Montgomery Family, Wofford is able to announce plans to convert the former Baptist Collegiate Ministry into a music building.

January 2009— 13 members of the faculty and staff participate in the first Milliken Faculty Development Seminar Abroad, spending two weeks in Argentina studying a curriculum developed in partnership with the Institute for International Education of Students.  In January 2010, the second seminar in the series takes 20 faculty and staff members to Shanghai.

March 9, 2009 — Wofford edges the University of Michigan and the University of Florida to claim the top place in the nationwide ONE campus challenge.  ONE is a program designed to enlist college students in the effort to reduce world poverty and preventable disease. Tomas Moreno, president of ONE at Wofford, is selected for a summer study and research trip to Kenya.

August 2009 —Professor Philip Swicegood is named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. He is scheduled to spend the spring 2010 semester teaching and doing collaborative research at the University of Split in Croatia. Claudia Winkler ’08, John Wood ’08 and Jessica Miller ’09 each receive another type of Fulbright grant to teach English to German students.

September 2009 — Wofford launches a major program in environmental studies with Dr. Kaye Savage as director.  It offers a distinctive combination of studies in science, social sciences and the humanities. Classes begin at the new Environmental Studies Center at Glendale Shoals, and the first visiting speakers in the Santee Cooper Lecture Series on Sustainability and Energy come to the campus.

November 2009— In just its second year under Coach Ralph Polson, the men’s soccer team wins the regular season Southern Conference championship with a 5-1-1 record and goes on to sweep the four-team conference tournament.  The Terriers are eliminated from the post-season national playoffs in a tough 1-0 loss at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

November 2009— Coach Mike Ayers is featured in a two-page essay in a U.S. News & World Report special issue saluting outstanding leaders.  Alex Kingsbury, associate editor, wrote the article titled, “Graduations First, Trophies Second.”

Nov. 19, 2009— The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education recognize Dr. Angela Shiflet as the 2009 South Carolina Professor of the Year. Along with 37 other state honorees, she is honored at a ceremony and dinner in Washington.

March 2010 — Wofford’s men’s basketball team wins both the Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships and takes on Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Those “firsts” become “seconds” a year later.

November 2011 — Van Hipp ’82 works diligently behind the scenes to bring the 2011 South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate to Wofford.

May 2012 — Dedication ceremonies are held for the Montgomery Music Building, which houses both choral and instrumental programs.

May 2012 — Dr. Dunlap announces that he will retire as president on July 1, 2013.

Click to see a Chronology of Wofford's first 150 years.