Dr. Trevor Bates '02 selected to lead Wilmington College into the Future
Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, has named Millikin University alumnus Dr. Trevor M. Bates '02 as its 19th president. Bates describes the opportunity as "the greatest honor of my professional life."
The Wilmington College Board of Trustees announced on Oct. 28 the successful completion of its presidential search by naming Bates, the chief academic officer at Mercy College of Ohio, to lead Wilmington. He will succeed Dr. Jim Reynolds, who began his tenure as Millikin University's 16th president on July 1.
Bates said he was originally attracted to Wilmington College's open presidency when reflecting upon his own experience as a graduate of a small, private, NCAA D-III institution in Millikin.
"I understand the transformational impact that a Wilmington College can have on students," he said. "It is the type of institution I have dedicated my professional life of service to. My wife, Kassandra, and I thought the College could be an excellent fit for our family — and we were right."
Bates looks forward to starting his presidency with the spring semester set to begin in January.
"Kassandra and I are excited to partner with the campus, local and entire Wilmington College Quaker community on an exciting journey together, 'not by a leap but by many steps,' (College motto) to help Wilmington College continue to rise."
Bates comes to Wilmington College after 20 years of progressive leadership roles at several institutions. He is completing his service as the vice president of academic affairs, dean of faculty and professor of health sciences at Mercy College of Ohio, which has campuses in Toledo and Youngstown.
He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Millikin University and earned a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a sports medicine concentration as a pre-doctoral fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bates has a Doctor of Health Sciences degree in leadership and organizational behavior from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, Mo., and is currently engaged in post-doctoral studies with Harvard University's Graduate School of Education — Institute for Educational Management.
During his professional career, Bates has served in leadership roles as a clinician, faculty member, clinical education coordinator, program director, department chair, dean and vice president.
Serving as the chief academic officer and accreditation liaison officer to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Bates led Mercy College of Ohio through an HLC reaffirmation of accreditation visit in 2019 resulting in the College receiving 10 years continuing accreditation. He has also led the College through eight specialized program accreditation visits and several state and regional new program development processes.
Bates' leadership in new program development has contributed to a 30 percent increase in enrollment in previously under-enrolled programs at Mercy College. The institution celebrated its highest ever recorded enrollment in 2018. He worked closely with the president and the Mercy Health Foundation – Greater Toledo to help the College receive the largest gifts in its history.
Prior to coming to Mercy College of Ohio in 2017, Bates served for 10 years at Heidelberg University, where he was the founding associate dean of the Division of Health Sciences, chair and director of athletic training, with rank of associate professor.
Outside of higher education, professionally, Bates currently chairs the Athletic Training Section as a joint board member of the State of Ohio's Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board and serves as vice president of the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers' Association (GLATA). He is a member of the Board of Directors (treasurer) for United Church Homes (UCH) and UCH Management and also serves as a senior adviser for T.R.U.E. Empowering, a consulting firm led by his eldest brother, Dr. Tyrone M. Bates, Jr.
Among the special recognition Bates has received throughout his career, his peers honored him in 2020 with the GLATA Dedicated Service Award for contributing to his profession at the state, regional and national levels. As a clinician, Bates has provided athletic training services for patients in physician practices, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, sports enhancement centers, college/university athletics and an array of special events including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.