Wilmington College (Ohio)

Wilmington College is a private college in Wilmington, Ohio. It was established by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1870 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college is still Quaker-affiliated and has seven core Quaker values. In fall 2018, the college set an enrollment record, bringing in 450 new students for the academic year, totaling 1,103 students on Wilmington's main campus, and 139 students at Wilmington's two Cincinnati branches at Blue Ash and Cincinnati State.

History
In 1863 three brothers, Hugh, James, and Thomas Garvin founded Franklin College in Albany, Ohio. After two years in Albany, the college was relocated to Wilmington, where the cornerstone of College Hall was laid on 4 July 1866. The institution was closed in 1868 following the Civil War. In 1870 the half-completed Franklin College building went up for auction. The building and 33 surrounding acres were purchased by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Lewis Estes was named the first president. Following a few years of economic struggle, Estes resigned. Benjamin Trueblood, a 26-year-old recent Earlham College graduate, was named the new president. In 1875, Wilmington College graduated its first class of four students, three females, and one male. South Hall (razed 1956) was the college's first dorm in 1876, and in 1904 the college purchased a former boarding house and named it Twin Ash Hall (demolished 1984).

In 1917, Wilmington College acquired the Lebanon National Normal School in Lebanon, Ohio. In 1944, under President S. Arthur Watson, the college was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and joined the North Central Association of Colleges. Following WWII, Wilmington College saw a huge boost in growth. Under President Samuel Marble, Marble Hall (1950) was constructed by students. This was due to the large boost in the middle class following WWII and the creation of the G.I. Bill. Also built by students were The Pyle Student Center (1957) and Friends Hall (1955). The current gymnasium, Herman Court was constructed in 1966.

In 2020, Trevor Bates was named as the College’s 19th and first African-American president. Bates was released from his contract in March 2023 by the college's board of trustees and Corey Cockerill was named interim president.

The college has 25 majors, 27 minors, and 32 concentrations. As well as three graduate programs. There are 18 intercollegiate sports in the NCAA Div-III. The campus features over 50 student-led organizations.

Presidents
Indicates interim/acting president*
 * Lewis A. Estes: 1871-1874
 * Benjamin Franklin Trueblood: 1874-1879
 * David Dennis: 1879-1881
 * James Unthank: 1881-1903
 * Albert Brown: 1903-1912
 * Samuel Hodgin: 1912-1915
 * J Edwin Jay: 1915-1927
 * Henry Williams: 1927-1928
 * Beverly Skinner: 1928-1931
 * Walter Collins: 1932-1940
 * Sheppard Arthur Watson: 1940-1947
 * Samuel Marble: 1947-1959
 * W Brooke Morgan: 1959-1960*
 * James Read: 1960-1969
 * W Brooke Morgan: 1969-1970*
 * Robert Hinshaw: 1971-1975
 * Neil Thorburn: 1982-1995
 * Daniel A. DiBiasio: 1995-2011
 * James Reynolds: 2012-2020
 * Erika Goodwin: 2020*
 * Trevor Bates: 2021–2023
 * Corey Cockerill: 2023-present*

Academics
Wilmington College offers 24 undergraduate majors with 27 minors and 32 concentrations. Wilmington College currently offers two masters programs.

Wilmington College has a partnership with Drayer Physical Therapy Institute. Athletic Training, Exercise Science, and Physical Therapy students get hands-on learning opportunities through Drayer's office that is housed in the College's Center for Sport Sciences. 

Wilmington College's Watson Library is a member of the Ohio Private Academic Libraries (OPAL) consortium and the OhioLINK consortium that provides an integrated catalog, e-resources, and more than 100 research databases.

Fulbright Scholar Program

Wilmington College has been home to nine Fulbright Scholars. Wilmington College has also hosted three visiting scholars. 

Home Scholars:


 * Donald Chafin
 * Alfred Conklin (2x)
 * Stephen Spencer
 * William Kincaid
 * Ismail Hejazifar
 * Grayson Yaple (2x)
 * Harry Johnston

Campuses

 * Wilmington, Ohio (Main Campus)
 * Cincinnati State (Cincinnati State Campus)

Academic buildings

 * College Hall (1869): Historic building present at Wilmington College's founding in 1870. Houses classrooms, faculty offices, offices of Admission, Financial Aid, the President's Office, and Academic Affairs. Added to National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
 * Bailey Hall (1908): Began as a science building for the college, and later renovated into student housing. Renovated to become home of the college's science programs once again temporarily during ongoing renovations to Kettering Hall. Bailey Hall is currently home to political science, criminal justice, psychology/sociology, and business offices.
 * S. Arthur Watson Library (1941): The college library, named for former College president S. Arthur Watson. The building is home to the college archives, OhioLink, OPAL, and study space for students. In 2023 the Watson Library began undergoing renovations.
 * Thomas R. Kelly Religious Center (1962): Kelly Religious Center houses faculty offices, classrooms, and the offices of the Wilmington Yearly Meeting.
 * Robinson Communication Center (1992): Houses the Academic Resource Center, computer labs, photography labs and studios, the Communication Arts Department, and student publication offices.
 * Oscar F. Boyd Cultural Arts Center (2005): Features David and June Harcum Art Gallery, the WC Theatre Department, 440-seat Hugh Heiland Theatre, Meriam R. Hare Quaker Heritage Center, T. Canby Jones Meetinghouse, and two-story academic wing with classrooms and faculty offices. Wilmington College Campus Ministry is also housed here, as well as the Campus Friends Meeting.
 * Center for Sport Sciences (2015): Houses the college's Athletic Training program, indoor and outdoor practice facilities for all athletic teams, and offices for Drayer Physical Therapy Institute, Beacon Orthopedics and Sport Medicine, and chiropractic offices.
 * Center for the Sciences & Agriculture (2016): Includes the renovated 34,000 square-foot former Kettering Science Hall and a 13,500 square-foot addition. The facility hosts 10 classrooms, 10 laboratories, three research labs, two 100-seat lecture halls and 30 offices.
 * Fife Hall (1906): Originally constructed as the Clinton County Infirmary in 1906. In 1997, Wilmington College purchased the land and existing structure. The structure houses dormitories and academic classrooms. One side houses the art program and the other agriculture labs. The Wilmington College Campus Farm is also housed here, containing several barns for equipment and animals.
 * Pyle Student Center (1957): Three story student union in the center of campus. The Pyle Center is home to the campus book store, mailroom, financial one stop, housing and residence life, student affairs, diversity and inclusion, student government, and student activities. The second floor of Pyle is known as T.O.P. and is the student dining hall. The basement, known as the Underground, is home to study space, a general store, and large game room. In December 2023, the Pyle Center began undergoing renovations. The T.O.P. was fully renovated in August of 2022. CSA WC.jpg

Peace Resource Center
The PRC is the home of the Barbara Reynolds Memorial Archives, which is one of the most extensive collections in the United States focusing on the human experience of nuclear war through the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan on August 6 and 9, 1945.

The PRC was founded in 1975 by the Quaker peace activist Barbara Leonard Reynolds (1915–1990).

Residence halls

 * Denver Hall (1925): Historic residence hall for fifty students.
 * Marble Hall (1948): Residence hall built by students led by College president Samuel Marble. The building was dedicated with an Ohio Historical Marker in 2013.
 * Friends Hall (1955): Residence halls in the center of campus for men and women.
 * Austin Pickett Hall (1965): Two large joining buildings housing freshman residence halls. In 2023, the College announced major renovations to Austin-Pickett Halls.
 * Campus Village (1998): Apartment-style residence buildings
 * College Commons (2001): Townhouse units for upperclassmen

Greek life
Wilmington College recognizes thirteen Greek Letter Organizations: three national fraternities, three local fraternities, two national sororities and three local sororities, and two auxiliaries. This group of thirteen Greek organizations constitutes the membership of the Greek Council. Additionally, Wilmington College boasts several honor societies, some international in scope.

Men's organizations
Active chapters in bold, inactive chapters italicized.

(NIC) indicates members of the North American Interfraternity Conference.

(NPHC) indicates members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.


 * Sigma Zeta (ΣΖ), 1916 – local fraternity (not to be confused with the STEM honorary of the same name)
 * Tau Kappa Beta (ΤΚΒ), 1948 – local fraternity
 * Delta Theta Sigma (ΔΘΣ), 1983 – national, with agricultural affinity
 * Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛΧΑ), 2008 – International fraternity
 * FarmHouse (FH), 2019 – international fraternity (NIC)
 * Gamma Phi Gamma (ΓΦΓ) , 1907-2014(suspended) (returned) 2022 - local fraternity
 * Phi Alpha Psi (ΦΑΨ), 1972-20xx – local fraternity (Inactive)
 * Iota Phi Theta (ΙΦΘ), 1984-20xx – international fraternity (NPHC and NIC) (Inactive)

Women's organizations
Active chapters in bold, inactive chapters italicized.

(NPC) indicates members of the National Panhellenic Conference.

(NPHC) indicates members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
 * Delta Omega Theta (ΔΩΘ), 1907 – local sorority
 * Alpha Phi Kappa (ΑΦΚ), 1921 – local sorority
 * Psi Beta Omega (ΨΒΩ), 1978 – local sorority
 * Delta Theta Sigma Lil Sis (ΔΘΣ sisters), 1984 – auxiliary, operates as a sorority
 * Phi Alpha Psi Sweethearts (ΦΑΨ sisters), 1985 – auxiliary, operates as a sorority
 * Kappa Delta (ΚΔ), 2009 – national sorority (NPC)
 * Sigma Gamma Rho (ΣΓΡ), 2017 – national sorority (NPHC)
 * Iota SweetHearts (ΙΦΘ sisters), 19xx-2014? – national auxiliary for ΙΦΘ

Honor societies
Active chapters in bold, inactive chapters italicized.

(ACHS) indicates members of the Association of College Honor Societies.
 * Omicron Delta Epsilon (ΟΔΕ), 1991 – economics honors (ACHS)
 * Sigma Tau Delta (ΣΤΔ), 19xx – English honors (ACHS)
 * Sigma Delta Pi (ΣΔΠ), 19xx – Hispanic culture and Spanish language honors (ACHS)
 * Delta Tau Alpha (ΔΤΑ), 19xx – agriculture honors (ACHS)
 * Phi Alpha Theta (ΦΑΘ), 1972-20xx – history honors (ACHS)

Athletics
Wilmington College athletic teams are known as the "Fightin' Quakers". Their colors are dark green and lime green. The Quakers compete at the NCAA Division III level and have been a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) since 2000. Wilmington College offers nine men's teams and nine women's teams, including

Men's sports
 * Baseball
 * Basketball
 * Cross Country
 * Football
 * Soccer
 * Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)
 * Lacrosse
 * Swimming
 * Wrestling

Women's sports
 * Basketball
 * Cross Country
 * Equestrian
 * Soccer
 * Softball
 * Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor)
 * Swimming
 * Volleyball

Coed sports
 * Cheerleading

Before becoming a member of the NCAA, Wilmington's teams competed in the NAIA. Wilmington was previously a member of the Association of Mideast Colleges from 1990 to 1996 and served as an independent until 1998. WC was in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference from 1998 to 1999, before joining the OAC in 2000. Wilmington's conference opponents include: Baldwin Wallace University, Capital University, Heidelberg University, John Carroll University, Marietta College, University of Mount Union, Muskingum University, Ohio Northern University, and Otterbein University.

National champions
Wilmington has had 8 individual National Champions, as well as one team National Championship.
 * Christian Patterson: 2014 NCAA Division III outdoor high-jump
 * Ashley Johnson: 2006 NCAA Division III polevault
 * Doreen Nagawa: 2005 NCAA Division III triple-jump
 * Emily Herring: 2004 NCAA Division III indoor high-jump
 * Women's Basketball: 2004 NCAA Division III National Champions
 * Jimmy Wallace: 2002 NCAA Division III Wrestling
 * Nyhla Rothwell: 1997 NCAA Division III indoor high-jump
 * Callen Martin: 2010 NCAA Division III 55-meter dash indoor
 * Brady Vilvens: 2023 NCAA Division III outdoor high-jump

National tournament appearances

 * Men's Basketball: '10, '14
 * Women's Basketball: '02, '03, '04, '07, '08
 * Men's Soccer: '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '86, '87, '89, '96, '99, '00, '01, '04
 * Women's Soccer: '85, '86, '94, '00, '02, '03
 * Football: '80, '82, '83

Conference champions-NCAA Era

 * Men's Basketball: '10, '14
 * Women's Basketball:'92, '99, '98, '00, '99 '02, '03, '05, '07, '08
 * Men's Soccer:'92, '93, '94, '95, '98, '99, '00, '04
 * Women's Soccer:'93, '94, '95, '98, '99, '00, '02, '03
 * Men's Track & Field: '01
 * Women's Track & Field: '99, '00, '01

Notable Quaker athletics alumni

 * Bill Ramseyer: Football Coach, 1972–1990 / Athletic Director, 1975–1988
 * Kirk Mee '61: Baseball, Football, Track
 * Charles "Shifty" Bolen: Football Coach, 1923–29
 * Bud Lewis, Soccer Coach 1975–2017
 * Peter Nilsson: Soccer, 1997, represented Västra Frölunda IF in the 1999 Allsvenskan

Cincinnati Bengals
Wilmington College was the location of summer training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League from the team's first season in 1968 through 1996, when the team moved camp to Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Notable alumni

 * Willis Todhunter Ballard '26, Western novelist
 * Thomas Raymond Kelly '13, Quaker Theologian & Author
 * J. Brent Bill '73, American author
 * Tom Blackburn, head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton 1947 – 1964
 * Satch Davidson '58, Major League baseball umpire
 * Joseph Haines Moore 1897, American astronomer
 * Stanley Plumly '62, a Guggenheim award and multiple Pushcart Prize-winning author, and Poet Laureate for the state of Maryland
 * André De Shields, Emmy Award and Tony Award-winning American actor
 * Gary Sandy, star of the television series WKRP in Cincinnati
 * Arthur R. M. Spaid 1893, American educator, school administrator, lecturer, and writer
 * Michelle Gorelow, Member of the Nevada Assembly
 * From Lebanon University which merged with Wilmington College in 1917
 * Stanley P. V. Arnold, an Illinois state representative and newspaper editor
 * Horatio C. Claypool, United States Representative from Ohio
 * Myers Y. Cooper, former Governor of Ohio
 * Clement L. Brumbaugh, United States Representative from Ohio
 * Francis B. De Witt, United States Representative from Ohio
 * Lucien J. Fenton, United States Representative from Ohio
 * William T. Fitzgerald, United States Representative from Ohio
 * John W. Harreld, United States Representative and Senator from Oklahoma
 * Cordell Hull, United States Senator from Tennessee and Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
 * James R. Keaton, Justice of the Oklahoma Territorial Supreme Court.
 * Isaac C. Ketler, Presbyterian scholar, founder of Grove City College
 * Andrew Armstrong Kincannon, Chancellor of the University of Mississippi
 * Monroe Henry Kulp, United States Representative from Pennsylvania
 * John J. Lentz, United States Representative from Ohio
 * John A. McDowell, United States Representative from Ohio
 * Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, autodidact physicist and meteorologist
 * Stephen Morgan, United States Representative from Ohio
 * Will E. Neal, United States Representative from West Virginia
 * Miner G. Norton, United States Representative from Ohio
 * James D. Post, United States Representative from Ohio
 * John M. Robsion, United States Representative and Senator from Kentucky
 * F. E. Riddle (judge), Attorney and Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court
 * Addison E. Southard, American diplomat
 * George M. Wertz, United States Representative from Pennsylvania
 * Edward E. Moore, Indiana state senator and Los Angeles City Council member
 * Mary Creegan Roark, first female president of Eastern Kentucky University