Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook

Ep. 8: Elmira College: Leveraging Division III Athletics for Student Success

Episode Summary

In this compelling episode of Visionary Voices: The College President's Playbook, host Dr. Bryan Gross dives into the crucial role of Division III athletics in shaping college dynamics, focusing on recruitment, retention, and community involvement. Joined by Elmira College President Chuck Lindsay and Vice President of Enrollment Management, Dennis Kelly, the conversation unveils insightful perspectives on how athletic programs not only foster campus unity and spirit but also significantly contribute to students’ academic and personal development. They explore the nuanced balance between maintaining competitive spirit and ensuring academic priorities, discussing innovative strategies for roster management and the integration of athletics into the broader educational mission. This episode not only highlights the successes and challenges faced by Elmira College but also provides valuable lessons on the symbiotic relationship between athletics and academic environments in Division III institutions. Join us as we unravel how these programs are pivotal in driving student engagement and institutional growth.

Episode Notes

In this compelling episode of Visionary Voices: The College President's Playbook, host Dr. Bryan Gross dives into the crucial role of Division III athletics in shaping college dynamics, focusing on recruitment, retention, and community involvement. Joined by Elmira College President Chuck Lindsay and Vice President of Enrollment Management, Dennis Kelly, the conversation unveils insightful perspectives on how athletic programs not only foster campus unity and spirit but also significantly contribute to students’ academic and personal development. They explore the nuanced balance between maintaining competitive spirit and ensuring academic priorities, discussing innovative strategies for roster management and the integration of athletics into the broader educational mission. This episode not only highlights the successes and challenges faced by Elmira College but also provides valuable lessons on the symbiotic relationship between athletics and academic environments in Division III institutions. Join us as we unravel how these programs are pivotal in driving student engagement and institutional growth.

Guest Names: 
President Chuck Lindsay
Dennis Kelly

Guest Social Handles:  
President Chuck Lindsay - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-lindsay-4a061a12/
Dennis Kelly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmk2023/

Guest Bios: 
President Chuck Lindsay - Dr. Charles “Chuck” Lindsay serves as the 15th president of Elmira College. Lindsay, who began his role on July 1, 2017, previously served as Elmira College's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Provost, respectively. Lindsay came to Elmira College in 2012 from Bryn Athyn College in suburban Philadelphia where he served in multiple positions including Assistant Professor of Economics and Mathematics, Dean of Students, Dean of Strategic Planning and Finance, and Dean of the College. He continues to serve as a trustee and chair of Bryn Athyn's Board Finance Committee. A graduate of Lafayette College (PA) and Lehigh University (PA), Lindsay earned his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania where he also did post-graduate work in Finance & Accounting at the Wharton School of Business. Lindsay's background also includes extensive experience with assessment and accreditation, including as a Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluator. On a personal side, Lindsay is a keyboardist and enjoys running and biking. He and his wife, Janna, have three grown daughters.

Dennis Kelly - Kelly brings more than 30 years of experience to his role and oversees the recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and institutional research efforts of the College. During Kelly’s extensive career, he has increased enrollment and improved the diversity of student populations at multiple institutions including Cheyney University, Notre Dame University of Maryland, Wilmington College, Cabrini University, Georgian Court, and Marywood University. At Wilmington, Kelly ushered in the two largest entering classes in the college’s history and was recognized for multiple awards by the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, 3Enrollment, and Hobsons. In 2019 he was appointed to Hobson’s National Advisory Board and he remains active within the enrollment management sector. Kelly is the only enrollment officer whose teams have won both RNL National Awards for Recruitment and Retention. Before getting into the enrollment side of higher education, Kelly was an assistant professor in Marketing and Business at Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey. He then became the Dean of Admissions at Centenary University in 1993 before taking on the role of Vice President for Enrollment. Kelly, a United States Army veteran who served in the Vietnam Era, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. He holds an Associate of Liberal Arts from Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, New Jersey. On the personal side, Kelly is an avid sports fan. He lettered in three different sports in college and was a member of an Army overseas basketball team.