NEWS

Newberry College has promoted Dr. Sidney Parrish, Jr., to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs, a role in which he has served on an interim capacity since July 2018. Parrish, a resident of Chapin, S.C., will assume the permanent appointment effective immediately. 

“I want to thank the VPAA search committee for their time, commitment and expert analysis,” said Newberry College President Dr. Maurice Scherrens. “We had a significant number of highly qualified candidates and the committee served the College well in assisting me in making this most important selection.”

In his role as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Parrish will provide leadership and administrative oversight for all instructional programs and related academic support services provided by the College.

“Dr. Parrish has worked hard to provide the consensus-building leadership this position requires,” said Philosophy and Religion professor Dr. Mike Beggs, who chaired the VPAA search committee. “Throughout the evaluation of 75 applicants, Dr. Parrish’s efforts and accomplishments set him apart among the very best candidates. His knowledge of the history and values of the College, combined with his understanding of the president’s vision for Newberry, made him an excellent choice. I am eager to share in the benefits of his new role and to witness his personal and our communal growth as we continue this journey together.” 

Parrish will provide leadership for faculty that encourages outstanding teaching and development of a curriculum focused on student academic and career outcomes. Parrish will oversee classroom technology initiatives that enhance student learning. He also will provide strategic leadership for Newberry’s focus on student retention and persistence. 

“As we continue to build bridges between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, I look forward to working with Dr. Parrish to provide the best student experience both inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Sandra Rouse, Dean of Students.

Parrish earned both his Ph.D., and Master of Science degrees in Physical Chemistry from the University of Florida and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Furman University. He brings 19 years of experience in higher education to the position.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our students, faculty and staff in this new role,” Parrish said. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we discover new opportunities, tackle new challenges and identify new programs and partnerships that will help the College remain competitive and create the best outcomes for our students.”

Parrish began his teaching career as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Midland Lutheran College (2000-2005) in Fremont, Neb., moving to a position of the same rank at North Carolina Wesleyan College (2005-2006) in Rocky Mount, S.C.

Parrish joined the Newberry College faculty in 2006, serving as full-time faculty, earning tenure and achieving the rank of associate professor. Parrish joined the administration in 2012 as the Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness. He has served the College as both Faculty Athletic Representative and Title IX Coordinator. In 2015, Parrish was promoted to Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives and continued to teach part-time through 2016.

“Dr. Parrish has been forthright in his work with the Board of Trustees’ Academic Affairs Committee on important issues from the faculty and student perspective,” said Board member Dr. Lenna Young. “I have no doubt that his strong commitment to the College’s talented and dedicated faculty and students will continue to effectively lead the positive direction of Newberry College.”

During the past five years, Parrish has played an integral role as the SACSCOC accreditation liaison and assisting the Board of Trustees in their annual review and update of the College’s strategic plan. He will continue to serve as the Administration’s point person to the Board’s Strategic Planning committee. Parrish also has been instrumental in developing and refining a financial aid matrix that has facilitated student enrollment growth over the past seven years.

“Sid is an excellent choice for this critical leadership position,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Best. “His results have been noteworthy to the Board and we look forward to his continued contributions.”