President's Biography
Eighteen years after Dr. James M. Dennis became the 32nd president of McKendree University,
his efforts to dramatically improve the campus landscape and community continue to
reap great dividends. Dr. Dennis has led McKendree to record growth in the academic
strength of faculty and students, academic programs, enrollment, on-campus residence,
fundraising, construction, athletics and co-curricular activities.
During Dr. Dennis’s tenure, McKendree’s growing reputation has garnered national attention.
Prestigious publications and organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, America’s
100 Best College Buys® and Colleges of Distinction, have recognized McKendree for
delivering a high-quality undergraduate education. McKendree University also ranks
among the top 10 percent of the Midwest’s Best Regional Colleges in the 2011 edition
of U.S. News Media Group’s Best Colleges report, and has been honored as one of the
country’s “Great Colleges to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education for three
straight years. Under Dr. Dennis’s leadership, McKendree has expanded its academic
course offerings to 44 undergraduate majors and graduate degree programs in education,
business administration, human resource management, nursing and professional counseling.
In 2011, McKendree announced that it will offer a doctoral program in education in
curriculum design and instruction.
Successful fundraising campaigns have enabled Dr. Dennis to dramatically enhance the
McKendree landscape. His contributions include new construction of academic, fine
arts, and athletic buildings, and the renovation of historic campus buildings, including
Bothwell Chapel. In 2011, construction was completed on two new residence halls, and
the campus dining hall was completely renovated.
Dr. Dennis is actively involved with numerous professional and civic organizations.
He currently serves on the executive board of the Council of Independent Colleges,
the Associated Colleges of Illinois, and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges
and Universities. Dr. Dennis is a leader in promoting volunteer service opportunities
for college students and is the past president of Illinois Campus Compact, an organization
dedicated to volunteerism. Locally, he serves on the Leadership Council for Southwestern
Illinois and is a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Regional Commerce
and Growth Association.
Dr. Dennis has lifelong ties to higher education. He grew up across the street from
Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., where his father was a highly regarded
member of the faculty. In 1966, Dr. Dennis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from
Occidental. He went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California.
In addition, he attended the Claremont Graduate School Institute on Higher Education
and Harvard Institute for New Presidents. In 1993, Dr. Dennis was awarded a J. William
Fulbright Fellowship to study in Germany and examine the German system of higher education.
Dr. Dennis’s commitment to youth and young adults is evident in his volunteer projects.
He was a founder of the National Youth Program, which offers educational and sports
opportunities to disadvantaged young people and he founded Educational Seminars, which
provides learning opportunities for high school and college educators throughout the
country. Dedicated in his efforts to build a diverse campus community, Dr. Dennis
actively promotes initiatives that encourage greater understanding and sensitivity.
He continues to be a champion of providing qualified students the opportunity for
a high quality college education.
