In graduate school at The Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, College Park, Wims had other aspirations but his career unexpectedly steered him to academics. While Wims’ career path to academics was unexpected, his choice of education as a profession was easy to predict. He comes from a family of educators in his native Lumpkin, Ga., a farming community in south Georgia.
As a relatively young vice president, Wims says he identifies with the challenges faced by the 3,200 Fort Valley students who are half his age.
“I have slept where they sleep; I have eaten the food they eat; and I’ve had some of the same professors they have,” he says. “Therefore, I have a unique knowledge of the culture on this campus.”
Those experiences along with his age allow him to speak candidly to students and be critical yet uplifting to encourage them against excessive tattoos, drug and alcohol abuse and Internet postings that may hurt their future careers.
Wims says his career goal is set for him to continue as Fort Valley’s chief academic officer in the immediate future. “I will entertain opportunities for a presidency in the distant future; however, that is not my focus at this time.”
Email the editor: editor@diverseeducation.com
Click here to post and read comments
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
