WC President Notes 2025 Progress Highlighted by ‘Purpose Can’t Wait’

WILMINGTON, Ohio (January 7, 2026)—Wilmington College continues to demonstrate steady progress and renewed momentum—a theme reflected throughout the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees.

We began our time together with a moment of gratitude for our Quaker High Note feature, Patricia Thomas, whose remarkable $2 million gift will endow the Campus Minister position in perpetuity. Patricia, a former campus minister and current clerk of Wilmington Yearly Meeting, spoke about her lifelong connection to Quaker values and her belief in the transformative work of Wilmington College. Her generosity ensures that generations of students will continue to experience the spirit of peace, service, and reflection that defines our community. Her words were simple but powerful: “I feel very privileged to be able to do this.” Her gift is a testament to the quiet strength of faith and the enduring difference one life can make.

That same spirit of purpose is visible throughout campus life. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, Adam Lohrey, shared that total enrollment reached 1,117 students this fall—a 6.7 percent increase from last year and more than 14 percent growth in just two years. Our main campus continues to see steady momentum as we diversify our enrollment portfolio across traditional, online, and graduate students. A total of 910 students are enrolled on the main campus, up from 863 the year prior. The Prison Education Program now serves three correctional institutions and represents about 13 percent of total enrollment. Together, these programs reflect our belief that education should meet people where they are and open new pathways for purpose and possibility.

Even more significant than the numbers is what they reveal: Wilmington has achieved 10-year highs in both retention and persistence. Behind those figures are relationships—faculty who know their students by name, advisors who stay connected, coaches and mentors who encourage, and staff who help students find their way. Those quiet, consistent acts of care are the reason students are staying, succeeding, and graduating in record numbers.

Our signature programs in agriculture and equine business management continue to experience record enrollment, reaffirming Wilmington’s reputation as a national leader in experiential, purpose-driven agricultural education. We are also preparing for a formal review of our proposed graduate program in agriculture by the Higher Learning Commission and the Ohio Department of Higher Education—a meaningful next step in extending our reach and relevance to the next generation of agricultural innovators and leaders.

This momentum is supported by our Purpose Can’t Wait marketing campaign, which continues to deliver on a focused social media and advertising strategy—reaching new audiences, elevating our brand presence, and amplifying the authentic stories of Wilmington College students, alumni, and faculty. The campaign’s consistent storytelling is strengthening awareness and helping prospective students see themselves in our community.

That same integration of learning and purpose was on full display during this year’s 35th Annual Westheimer Peace Symposium, hosted by the Peace Resource Center as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. This year’s theme, Practicing Art, Practicing Nuclear Abolition, brought artists, activists, and scholars together to examine how creative expression can inspire peacebuilding and advocacy. Wilmington College was honored to host the U.S. premiere of the PBS documentary, The Vow from Hiroshima, offering students and community members alike a powerful reminder of the human dimension of peace and the enduring impact of compassion in action. The symposium’s ongoing impact will be sustained through a new endowment established by Jerry Scheve as part of his transformational gift to the College.

Our momentum extends beyond the classroom and into every corner of campus. On September 27, as part of our Homecoming Weekend, we celebrated the groundbreaking for the Scheve Athletic Center, where I had the privilege of sharing remarks alongside members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, and friends of the College. The project will include the Scheve- Ramseyer-Lewis Hall of Champions and the newly renovated Scheve Athletic Center—formerly the Quaker Recreation Center. These spaces will provide a modern, welcoming environment for recreation, wellness, and connection. Looking ahead, the Jenna Parlette Running Center will break ground on April 3, 2026, continuing the transformation of our athletic facilities and honoring the legacy of a beloved student and athlete.

Vice President for Advancement Tammy Shadley shared continued progress in giving this fiscal year, supported by endowments such as the newly endowed Campus Minister position, the Westheimer Peace Symposium Fund, and new scholarships that support students from diverse backgrounds. Additional funding for international programs and student experiences reflects Wilmington’s reach far beyond our campus borders. The Many Small Steps Tour continues that connection, bringing together alumni, friends of the College, former trustees, and even prospective students and athletes.

Upcoming visits will take place in Pennsylvania in November, California in December, and Florida in January—each one an opportunity to share stories of impact and purpose from Wilmington College’s vibrant community.

Our institutional dashboard shows measurable gains across all seven pillars of the In Common Cause strategic plan, with about 15 percent of initiatives now complete and 70 percent actively in progress. From high-impact learning and workforce partnerships to wellness initiatives and facility improvements, our collective work continues to move us closer to the vision we share for Wilmington’s future.

Every Board meeting reminds me that the institution’s greatest strength lies not in any single program or building, but in the people who bring our mission to life—faculty who teach with conviction, staff who lead with compassion, trustees who guide with wisdom, and students who seek a life of purpose.

We have reached a moment where memory and momentum meet. Each success—each step—is evidence of what we can achieve when we move together.

Purpose can’t wait, and neither can we.

In common cause,

Corey

Corey Cockerill, President

Featured in the photo slideshow are:

1. Members of the incoming 2025 class flash the WC sign at the Rock-signing component of their New Student Orientation program in August. The group includes Taryn Tate, Grace Cline, Alaina Eldridge, and Ashley Bailey.

2. Masae Shoda, who shared the story of her parents experiencing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, speaks at the Westheimer Peace Symposium

3. Purpose Can't Wait

Article Submitted by Wilmington College