01/17/2001

Frank Wheeler Appointed Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Tusculum College

Frank T. Wheeler

GREENEVILLE, TN -- Tusculum College President Dr. Dolphus E. Henry, after a nationwide search, has announced the appointment of Frank Wheeler as vice president for institutional advancement at Tusculum College.

Wheeler joined the College in 1999 as director of planned giving, a position he held until his current appointment, which became effective in late December 2000.

"I am very happy to have Frank taking on this new level of responsibility at Tusculum College," Dr. Henry said. "In the time that I have been at Tusculum College I have found Frank to be a tireless and effective achiever. He has made friends throughout the Tusculum College community, both on-campus and among the college's alumni and external supporters. Frank's qualities are just what Tusculum College needs in this key position."

In his new position, Wheeler oversees the college's development and fund-raising efforts, working closely with the president. He also is the supervising vice president for the directors of the Alumni Relations, Development, and Public Relations offices of the college.

Wheeler, formerly of Savannah, Georgia, holds a Master of Library Science degree from Clark Atlanta University and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Georgia.

Before coming to Tusculum, he was assistant director of the Georgia Historical Society, chartered in 1832. During Wheeler's four-plus years at the historical society, the institution's budget grew from $350,000 to $1,000,000 and membership grew from 1,600 to over 5,000.

Wheeler is also an author, his most recent book being 'The College History Series: Tusculum College," a part of Arcadia Publishing's series on American colleges. This pictorial history of Tusculum College, Tennessee's oldest institution of higher education, has been well-received by friends and alumni of the college. While still in Savannah, Wheeler authored two other Arcadia books, "The Great Savannah Races" and "The Savannah River Plantations."

In the higher education field, Wheeler worked with the president of the University of New Hampshire to establish that school's museum and archives, which were designed to aid in fund raising by preserving the university's history and creating a sense of place. Of his vice presidential appointment, Wheeler said, "I'm happy Dr. Henry has given me the opportunity to play a key role in the future of Tusculum College. Higher education is going through a period of great transition, and it's exciting the see the opportunities before us."

Wheeler and his wife, Paige, live in Greeneville and have two sons, Nathan, 6, and Duncan, 3. The Wheelers are active members of Greeneville First Presbyterian Church, a congregation with a long historical association with Tusculum College.