The Council of Independent Colleges has selected University of Lynchburg President Dr. Kenneth Garren for a national award recognizing leadership and service.
Dr. Garren will receive the Charles W.L. Foreman Award in May at the CIC State Funds Annual Conference, which brings together leaders from around the country to discuss ways to promote and strengthen private higher education institutions. First presented in 1994, the annual award recognizes someone who has demonstrated “truly exceptional commitment and leadership” in the advancement of the national CIC and its state fund members.
“Throughout his tenure at University of Lynchburg, Ken Garren has had a tangible impact on the advancement of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and over the last three years he has extended his influence to the national level as a member of CIC’s State Funds Advisory Council,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “With his exceptional involvement and leadership in these programs, Ken Garren represents the ideal envisioned by the founders of the Foreman Award. CIC is honored to have the opportunity to recognize his outstanding commitment and leadership.”
“It’s well deserved recognition,” added Ned Moore, CIC vice president and executive director of State Fund programs. “Ken has done a lot for Virginia colleges and has been a good role model for many people.”
Dr. Garren has participated in many VFIC initiatives and has served as co-chair of the foundation’s Ethics Bowl program for 11 years. During a three-year term that ended this summer, Dr. Garren helped the State Funds Advisory Board focus on initiatives that would have the most beneficial impact to private colleges, Moore said.
The Foreman Award is named in honor of Charles W. L. Foreman, who served as executive vice president of UPS, president of the UPS Foundation, and chair of the board of the former Foundation for Independent Higher Education, which merged with CIC in 2010. Foreman was a driving force behind the gift from UPS that created the CIC State Funds Endowment, a fund that has provided almost $60 million in support of State Fund Member scholarship programs and collaborative projects.
