Page 77 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
Therapy program set a high standard for quality and aggressive development for other health-related
graduate offerings that the University planned to initiate in the future.
Becoming Shenandoah University. Pressure mounted from all constituencies to change the
name of the College/Conservatory to University once Physical Therapy students were in enrolled along
with music and business graduate students. When the resolution was presented to the Board of Trustees
to consider the name change to Shenandoah University from Shenandoah College and Conservatory,
almost unanimous voices declared that it should be done immediately. A Winchester Star editorial
observed that this was a smart move and the residents would be happy to know what to call the
institution. The new name was accepted with some concern by Conservatory alumni who feared that the
Shenandoah Conservatory name would be lost, but the Board of Trustees, as part of the change,
identified the music, theatre, and dance programs as those for which “Shenandoah Conservatory” was to
be placed on student diplomas along with that of the parent organization, Shenandoah University.
Hundreds of alumni asked for and were granted new diplomas with the University name in lieu of
Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music. The name transition was one of the easiest and
popular changes made among the many hundreds of changes that occurred in the years of my
presidency.
Leesburg Campus. The Leesburg campus of the University was started modestly and was
expanded with enrollments in business, education, and continuing education classes. Several other
universities expanded off-campus offerings in the region, and the idea of a new state university never
gained approval once Shenandoah had expanded along with the other universities in the region. On the
main campus, a new addition to Wilkins Hall provided new administrative space for the growing staff
that was needed to handle the program expansion. A series of institutes and centers broadened the reach
of the University to new constituencies, such as the Local History Project, McCormick Civil War
Institute, Blue Ridge Institute of Environmental Studies, Willa Cather Institute, Lin Ron San Journalism
Center, Marsh Institute of Government and Public Service, and the endowed Durell Institute of
Monetary Science. A new athletic field was constructed behind Parker Hall to help with the addition of
lacrosse for men and women students and was named for Harry Aikens, local contractor and donor to
the University. Extensive renovations, including a new floor and additional offices were added in
Shingleton Hall to assist with athletic expansion.
Durrell Institute. The Durell Institute developed as a special program because of the
involvement of Alson H. Smith, trustee, in the restructuring of the trustees of the Durell Foundation. He
was appointed by the Attorney General, Mary Sue Terry, to the Chairmanship of the Trustees, who were
in conflict and unable to honor the terms of the will of Edward Durell that bequeathed more than
$15 million to a foundation in Berryville, Va., to help improve economic understanding of the U.S.
monetary system and the free enterprise economy. After settling several lawsuits between trustees and
vendors, Al Smith asked President Davis to serve as treasurer of the foundation to assist him with
financial operations and investment of the funds held by the Foundation. Durell Foundation relocated to
the Shenandoah campus into space in the new Smith Library and continued operations that included
publishing economic tracts, holding seminars, and providing scholarships for students in economic fields
of study. Elizabeth Racer was named in the will to work with the program, and she worked with Al
Smith, President Davis, and the other trustees to fulfill the dictates of the trust that funded operations.
The Chairman worked to maintain a delicate balance between the two trustees in Ohio and two trustees
in Virginia, and he worked to make the Foundation a major benefit for both communities and insisted on
using the funds to fulfill the terms of the will. However, the death of a Virginia trustee, conflict with
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 67
Therapy program set a high standard for quality and aggressive development for other health-related
graduate offerings that the University planned to initiate in the future.
Becoming Shenandoah University. Pressure mounted from all constituencies to change the
name of the College/Conservatory to University once Physical Therapy students were in enrolled along
with music and business graduate students. When the resolution was presented to the Board of Trustees
to consider the name change to Shenandoah University from Shenandoah College and Conservatory,
almost unanimous voices declared that it should be done immediately. A Winchester Star editorial
observed that this was a smart move and the residents would be happy to know what to call the
institution. The new name was accepted with some concern by Conservatory alumni who feared that the
Shenandoah Conservatory name would be lost, but the Board of Trustees, as part of the change,
identified the music, theatre, and dance programs as those for which “Shenandoah Conservatory” was to
be placed on student diplomas along with that of the parent organization, Shenandoah University.
Hundreds of alumni asked for and were granted new diplomas with the University name in lieu of
Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music. The name transition was one of the easiest and
popular changes made among the many hundreds of changes that occurred in the years of my
presidency.
Leesburg Campus. The Leesburg campus of the University was started modestly and was
expanded with enrollments in business, education, and continuing education classes. Several other
universities expanded off-campus offerings in the region, and the idea of a new state university never
gained approval once Shenandoah had expanded along with the other universities in the region. On the
main campus, a new addition to Wilkins Hall provided new administrative space for the growing staff
that was needed to handle the program expansion. A series of institutes and centers broadened the reach
of the University to new constituencies, such as the Local History Project, McCormick Civil War
Institute, Blue Ridge Institute of Environmental Studies, Willa Cather Institute, Lin Ron San Journalism
Center, Marsh Institute of Government and Public Service, and the endowed Durell Institute of
Monetary Science. A new athletic field was constructed behind Parker Hall to help with the addition of
lacrosse for men and women students and was named for Harry Aikens, local contractor and donor to
the University. Extensive renovations, including a new floor and additional offices were added in
Shingleton Hall to assist with athletic expansion.
Durrell Institute. The Durell Institute developed as a special program because of the
involvement of Alson H. Smith, trustee, in the restructuring of the trustees of the Durell Foundation. He
was appointed by the Attorney General, Mary Sue Terry, to the Chairmanship of the Trustees, who were
in conflict and unable to honor the terms of the will of Edward Durell that bequeathed more than
$15 million to a foundation in Berryville, Va., to help improve economic understanding of the U.S.
monetary system and the free enterprise economy. After settling several lawsuits between trustees and
vendors, Al Smith asked President Davis to serve as treasurer of the foundation to assist him with
financial operations and investment of the funds held by the Foundation. Durell Foundation relocated to
the Shenandoah campus into space in the new Smith Library and continued operations that included
publishing economic tracts, holding seminars, and providing scholarships for students in economic fields
of study. Elizabeth Racer was named in the will to work with the program, and she worked with Al
Smith, President Davis, and the other trustees to fulfill the dictates of the trust that funded operations.
The Chairman worked to maintain a delicate balance between the two trustees in Ohio and two trustees
in Virginia, and he worked to make the Foundation a major benefit for both communities and insisted on
using the funds to fulfill the terms of the will. However, the death of a Virginia trustee, conflict with
Davis on History of S.C., 1982-2008 67
