W&J
news
Highmark CEO elected chairman of W&J board Kenneth Melani ’75, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, has been elected chairman of Washington & Jefferson College’s board of trustees. Melani succeeds Charles T. (Tuck) Nason, retired chairman and CEO of the Acacia Group, who served in this capacity since 2007. “Ken Melani is a dedicated member of the board of trustees and extremely committed to the continued success of his alma mater,” President Tori Haring-Smith said. “I welcome him as the new chairman, look Highmark President and CEO Kenneth Melani ’75 is “very honored” to serve as chairman of the W&J board of trustees.
forward to his leadership, and thank Tuck Nason for his years of service in this capacity.” In his position at Highmark, which he assumed in 2003, Melani oversees the daily operations of one of the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans in the country, serving 32 million people through the company’s health care, dental, vision and customized supplemental health products businesses. “W&J always has been a very special place to me,” Melani said. “My student experience here was invaluable in helping me achieve many of my personal and professional goals. I’m very honored to serve as the new chair of the board of trustees and I’m looking forward to working with the board, faculty, staff and students to continue the outstanding work that’s taken place at W&J.” Melani holds a bachelor’s in chemistry from W&J and a doctorate in medicine from the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. He completed his residency in internal medicine at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in 1982.
W&J welcomes new vice president for academic affairs James C. White II, Ph.D., interim provost and associate professor of physics at Gettysburg College, is the new vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty at Washington & Jefferson College. White succeeds Jan Czechowski, Ph.D., who is retired but remains part of the W&J faculty.
James C. White II, Ph.D., comes to W&J from Gettysburg College.
“Dr. White brings to W&J an incredibly strong academic background and an enthusiasm and commitment to liberal arts education that makes him a perfect fit to join our leadership team,” President Tori Haring-Smith said.
In this role, White aims to enhance the College’s status as a liberal arts institution of the highest rank and to further develop its “inclusive and vibrant intellectual climate.” “Washington & Jefferson College is an important institution, one that for nearly 230 years has provided a superb education to individuals who affect, move and change the world,” White said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join W&J’s students, faculty and staff in this important endeavor.” White holds a bachelor’s in physics from Birmingham-Southern College and a master’s and doctorate in astronomy from Indiana University Bloomington.
6
SUMMER 2010 MAGAZINE
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY The study-abroad opportunities provided to students at Washington & Jefferson College have been recognized as award-winning by the Institute of International Education. A recipient of the Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education, W&J was named a co-winner in the study-abroad category. Particular mention was given to the Magellan Project, a one-of-a-kind initiative that provides internal funding for students looking to pursue internships or independent travel during their college careers. To date, Magellan has helped fund the experiences of more than 70 W&J students, including Nathan Graf ’10 (pictured above) who traveled to Ecuador and Guatemala to provide medical support and equipment to rural health clinics.