By JACK PALMER

palmer@crescent-news.com

Dr. Charles Warren returned to Defiance College as its interim president amidst plenty of smiles, handshakes and hopes for the future.

"This was one of the most rewarding parts of our career to be part of this college and community," said Warren, who served DC as interim dean of the McMaster School for Advancing Humanity during the 2004-05 academic year. "We are pleased to be back."

Warren and his wife, Nancy, were greeted enthusiastically by faculty and staff during a welcome reception Wednesday at the Serrick Center.

"Nancy has been my personal and professional partner for almost 48 years," he stated. "I couldn't have done much without her."

Warren, retired president of Lynchburg College in Virginia, most recently served as interim president at Bluefield College in his hometown of Bluefield, Va., during the 2006-07 school year.

"I couldn't be more pleased to welcome Charles and Nancy back to our college and our community," said Phil Mallott, president of the board of trustees. "He already knows many of the people here. In this transitional year (2008-09 academic year), there will be a great opportunity to move forward as an institution."

A presidential search committee has been established, but it is not unusual in higher education for the process to take an entire year.

"We will have a very good transitional year because we want to think this is a distinctive liberal arts college," said Warren, who lauded former president Dr. Gerald Wood for his "excellent leadership."

Added Warren: "This will be a year of openness and transparency in communication."

Reflecting on his earlier stint at DC, he recalled a phone call he received almost four years ago to the day.

"I was working in my garden in southwest Virginia and there was a message from Jerry Wood, whom I did not know. He identified himself as president of Defiance College and said he wanted to talk to me. He described a unique and exciting program and said he was looking for a retired college president to be interim dean for a year."

Warren described how, after visiting Defiance, he and his wife were captivated by the college's mission, the collaborative spirit of the faculty and staff, and the people of rural northwest Ohio.

"We are honored to be back," he said.

Warren has more than 35 years of higher education experience, including six years as president at the State University of New York in Plattsburgh and eight more as president of Lynchburg College (1993-2001).

During his short tenure as interim president of Bluefield College, Warren provided leadership in the creation of a new forensics science major and articulation agreements with three regional community colleges and a medical school. He also 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.

Upon his departure in May of last year, Bluefield College established the Charles O. Warren Jr. Scholarship Fund in his honor.

The DC search committee is comprised of trustees Phil Mallott, Stu Sakosits, Barb Silvas, Shaune Skinner, Keith Bell, Tom Hubbard and Eric Hench; faculty members Tim Rickabaugh, David Stuckey and Lori Robison; staff members Mariah Orzolek (director of resident life/campus housing) and Jodie Holava (softball coach); student body president Kyle Shong; and Warren.

The college has hired Dr. Bruce Alton of Academic Search Inc. as search consultant. Alton will be on campus in August to receive input from faculty, staff and trustees for the drafting of the presidential profile.