Poshard named Morthland College president

A familiar face in southern Illinois politics and education has a new role.
Dr. Glenn Poshard, former U.S. Congressman and president of Southern Illinois University, has been named president of Morthland College in West Frankfort.
Poshard becomes the second president of the college, taking over the duties from founding president Dr. Tim Morthland, who will become chairman of the college’s Board of Trustees and continue to work in business enterprises.
The announcement was made during a news conference Tuesday at Whitfield Hall in West Frankfort.
“I’m deeply honored to be offered this position as the second president of this outstanding young college,” Poshard said. “I’m excited about this opportunity. I believe in this college. I believe we can bring a lot of young students here.”
Poshard said he believes in the college’s vision and mission statements, which are centered around pillars of wisdom, heritage, tradition and Christ.
“It’s grounded in the pioneering spirit that settled in southern Illinois," Poshard said. "The hard-working people that came here and settled here. Their values, their cultures, their backgrounds is all articulated in that vision statement. It’s totally in line with who we are as people in southern Illinois, particularly our bent toward a faith-based education.”
Poshard, 71, said he is prepared to expend energy in building the college to the next level.
“I want to devote it (energy) to something I care about deeply and faith-based education gives me that opportunity,” Poshard said.
Poshard said he wants to create a campus that “feels new,” and take the college to the highest level of accreditation possible. The college is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. Enrollment is approaching 400 with 100 enrolled in the ground campus and the remaining students enrolled in online degree programs.
“We struck a common spirit and common tone and a bass note that was very harmonic in our style of leadership and our passion for the Christian faith and the education of our youth,” Morthland said in explaining why Poshard was chosen to lead the college. “I regard him more than suitable as the next president of Morthland College, and I think he will take us to the next level of credence in our region.”
Morthland said that growth in the college’s related enterprises — a series of guilds designed to support the school and rebuild the region’s economy including Morthland College Health Services and Da Vinci Beverages — is necessitating the change in leadership. Morthland will devote more of his time to his role as chief executive officer of these guilds.