Bob Jones University names new academic dean
January 17, 2012
GREENVILLE, SC – January 17, 2012 – Bob Jones University executive vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Gary Weier, announced today the appointment of Dr. Renae Wentworth as dean of the College of Arts & Science effective at the retirement of Dr. Bob Taylor from the position in May.
In her new position, Dr. Wentworth will be responsible for programs and faculty in six academic divisions: English Language and Literature, Modern Language and Literature, Mathematical Sciences, Natural Science, Nursing and Health Science, and Social Science, along with a graduate program in English. These divisions currently enroll well over 900 students in 23 academic majors.
Dr. Wentworth holds a BA in Interpretative Speech, an MA in English and an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction with an English emphasis—each from Bob Jones University.
Since 2006 she has served as director of BJU’s freshman English program and supervisor of graduate assistants who teach in the English department.
“Dr. Wentworth brings a breadth of experience to her new position that will enhance her effectiveness in meeting the diverse responsibilities of an academic dean,” says Dr. David Fisher, provost.
A professor in the Division of English Language and Literature at BJU since 2001, Dr. Wentworth has furthered the development of both semesters of the current freshman English program—Composition and Grammar and Composition and Rhetoric. She also teaches Composition and Literature and has served as faculty advisor to 25-30 students majoring in English each year. In conjunction with her teaching responsibilities, she is a contributing author to Companion to College English, 3rd edition, and College Writing, 2nd edition. In addition she has written a number of articles for BJU publications such as Voice of the Alumni, BJU Review and BJU Magazine.
Dr. Wentworth’s teaching experience also includes instructor of speech and English at Bridgeport Baptist Academy, Bridgeport, Mich., and English and algebra tutor to home schooled students in Hesperia, Calif.
At BJU Dr. Wentworth has executed a number of other responsibilities including supervisor of the Promotions office, dissertation committee member, editor of the faculty’s Advisor Manual, Student Handbook revision committee member, judge of extemporaneous essay contests and chair of the committee to evaluate ESL student performance in freshman English.
Prior to joining BJU, Dr. Wentworth was a department supervisor for Daymon Associates at Bi-Lo corporate offices in Mauldin, where she worked to enhance the Bi-Lo corporate brand and served as liaison between buyers and food companies, and was executive assistant to the president of OIC Investment Corporation in Victorville, Calif., where she interfaced with government officials on real estate development regulations, negotiated construction contracts and communicated with corporate investors and the press.
Dr. Bob Taylor will retire as dean of the College of Arts & Science at the end of the 2011-12 academic year in May.
During his 50 years on the BJU faculty, Dr. Taylor served as chairman of the Mathematics Department, chairman of the Division of Mathematical Science, dean of the School of Business Administration and dean of the College of Arts & Science, a position he has held since 1998. He has also provided systems analyst consulting services to a number of area businesses.
Dr. Taylor holds a BS in Mathematics from BJU, an MA in Mathematics from The Pennsylvania State University, a PhD in Mathematics from Clemson University and an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
“Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for Dr. Taylor and his life of faithful service at BJU,” says Dr. Gary Weier. “His ministry in and out of the classroom has reached the hearts and minds of thousands of lives. We will miss him and desire God’s best for him and his wife Barb as they transition to new opportunities.”
Well known in Greenville County for his public service, Dr. Taylor has served on the Greenville County Council since 2001 where he has chaired the Finance Committee and served as vice chairman of the Council the last four years. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and the Matrix Board. His past service includes the Greenville Zoning Board of Appeals, Greenville Memorial Auditorium Board, Greenville County Election Commission, Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Advisory Committee of Tri-County Technical College. In 1981 he was appointed by the U.S. secretary of education to a four-year term on the Advisory Council on Education Statistics and in 1988 by the governor of South Carolina to the South Carolina Reinsurance Facility Board of Governors.
Since 1976, Dr. Taylor has held a number of positions in the South Carolina Republican party, including Greenville County Executive Committee, 17-time delegate to the state convention and delegate to three GOP national conventions.
Dr. Taylor is a past president of the Bob Jones University Alumni Association. He has been listed in Outstanding Young Men in America and Who’s Who in the South. He is a member of Hampton Park Baptist Church in Greenville where he has served on the Board of Deacons.
