Dr. William Tsutsui, who's been dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences at SMU, will become president of Hendrix College in June.
The Board of Trustees announced the choice today. Tsutsui is a specialist in Japanese business and economics. Fun fact: His published work includes a book on Godzilla.
Tsutsui succeeds Dr. Timothy Cloyd, who stepped down as president in February. W. Ellis Arnold is serving as acting president.
Tsutsui’s wife, Dr. Marjorie Swann, received a Ph. D. in 17th Century British Literature from Oxford University’s Corpus Christi College and will join the Hendrix faculty in the English department.
The college news release follows
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The Hendrix College Board of Trustees announced today that Dr. William M. Tsutsui will become the 11th President of Hendrix College beginning June 2014.
Dr. Tsutsui comes to Hendrix from Southern Methodist University where he led Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, the largest of SMU’s seven colleges and schools, as Dean and Professor of History. A specialist in modern Japanese business and economic history, his published books examine topics ranging from banking policy to the film icon Godzilla.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are extremely pleased and excited to welcome Dr. Tsutsui as the 11th President of Hendrix College,” said Hendrix alumnus David Knight, Chair of the Hendrix College Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the Search Committee. “We are very fortunate to have such an accomplished academician and administrator to lead Hendrix into an exciting new era.”
Hendrix senior and President of the Student Senate Neelam Vyas served on the Search Committee, consisting of students, faculty, staff, and trustees.
“Throughout the interview process, Dr. Tsutsui continued to engage and excite the Search Committee,” she said. “He captivated us with his personality, humor, and familiarity with the Hendrix story. His continued commitment to his own scholarly pursuits embodies our community commitment to excellence in our academic core.”
SMU President R. Gerald Turner praised Tsutsui for his leadership. His collaborative relationship with faculty allowed Dedman College “to achieve significant and rapid progress in developing innovative programs, establishing new endowed chairs, and advancing research.”
“It is not surprising that Dean Tsutsui would be tapped for a college presidency as the next step in his distinguished career as an administrator and educator,” Turner said. “We wish him the best of luck.”
Prior to joining SMU, Tsutsui served as Associate Dean for International Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Kansas where he was a history professor and director of the Kansas Consortium for Teaching About Asia in KU’s Center for East Asian Studies.
A Texas native, Tsutsui received a Ph.D. in history at Princeton University in 1995, and a Master of Arts in history there in 1990. He received a Master of Letters in Modern Japanese History from Oxford University’s Corpus Christi College in 1988 and graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies in 1985.
“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to serve as President of Hendrix,” Tsutsui said. “Today, despite the challenges faced by all liberal arts colleges, Hendrix holds an enviable position. Your Hendrix Odyssey has clearly energized the campus and provided focus, identity, and national profile in a crowded academic marketplace. I firmly believe that Hendrix is well prepared for the challenges ahead and I look forward to working with the trustees, faculty, staff, and students to make a real contribution to Hendrix’s future.”
Tsutsui’s wife, Dr. Marjorie Swann, received a Ph. D. in 17th Century British Literature from Oxford University’s Corpus Christi College and will join the Hendrix faculty in the English department.
Tsutsui succeeds Dr. J. Timothy Cloyd, who has served as president of Hendrix since 2001.
W. Ellis Arnold, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Dean of Advancement, will continue to serve as Acting President until Dr. Tsutsui’s presidency begins in June 2014.
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