DePauw Picks 20th President
McCoy was named DePauw's president in March.
DePauw University has selected its 20th president from within the family. School of Music Dean Mark McCoy will lead the school beginning in July. The university says McCoy’s proven track record in fundraising and engagement show he can make a major impact on the school and the community. "In today’s higher education climate," says McCoy, "DePauw must be more than one of the best – it must be one of a kind." He succeeds Brian Casey, who will leave at the end of the academic year to become president of Colgate University.
McCoy has led DePauw’s School of Music since August 2011. Since then, the school says he has raised $23 million and positioned the school and university as a major cultural destination in the region. In addition, he launched the 21st Century Musician Initiative in 2013, which the school calls "an extensive re-imagining of the professional music school curriculum and student experience." DePauw says attendance at School of Music events has doubled during McCoy’s tenure. He also partnered with legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma to launch the "Silk Road Global Musician Workshop," which brings musicians from around the world to Greencastle to perform each June.
An 18-member presidential search committee spent months searching for the school’s next president. Chairwoman Kathy Patterson Vrabeck says McCoy was "the clear choice" to lead the school, saying he "shares our community’s ambitious vision for our future, and is a dynamic leader who will be an immediately effective advocate and ambassador for this place we love."
The West Virginia native holds a B.A. in music education from Shepherd University, a Masters Degree from the Peabody Conservatory and a Ph.D. in fine arts from Texas Tech University. His career includes stints as an elementary, middle and high school music teacher and 16 years as a faculty member and music executive at Shepherd.
Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory says he is also pleased with the announcement, saying he is "very excited about what his presidency will do to carry these important bonds (between the school and the city) to higher levels."
DePauw University will mark the announcement Tuesday with two receptions. The first will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts. The second runs from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.