2006-07 Media Guide - Washington & Lee - Washington and Lee ...

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KEN RUSCIO, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Ken Ruscio officially began his duties as
the University's 26th president in July 2006.
Ruscio earned a B.A. in politics from Washington
and Lee in 1976 and earned an M.P.A.
and Ph.D. from Syracuse University's Maxwell
School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1978
and 1983, respectively.
Ruscio served as a professor of politics,
associate dean of the Williams School of Commerce,
Economics, and Politics, and dean of
freshmen at W&L from 1987 until 2002, when
he became the dean of the Jepson School of
Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond.
Ruscio has also taught at Worcester Polytechnic
Institute and Kansas University and was
a postdoctoral research scholar at UCLA. He recently completed his second term as
national president of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership society begun at W&L
in 1914 that now has chapters at over 300 campuses. He has led and served on dozens
of academic, professional and civic committees.
Ruscio is married to the former Kimberley O'Donnell of New York. They have a
son, Matt, age 16.
CHUCK O'CONNELL, INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Chuck O’Connell will serve the 2006-07
school year as Interim Director of Athletics at
Washington and Lee, becoming just the sixth
athletic director in the school’s history.
O’Connell arrived at W&L in 1973 as assistant
professor of physical education, assistant
lacrosse and assistant football coach. He
was named assistant athletic director in 1983,
overseeing the department’s finances, facilities
and operations. In 1991, he became the director
of physical education and in 2002, he was
promoted to senior assistant athletic director.
As assistant football coach from 1973-90,
including 13 seasons as defensive coordinator,
O’Connell helped guide the Generals to ODAC
Championships in 1981 and 1985, while mentoring
16 players to First Team All-Conference honors.
As assistant lacrosse coach from 1974-83, O’Connell helped steer the Generals
to six NCAA Division I Tournament berths and 36 players earned USILA Division I All-
America honors during his 10 seasons.
Prior to his arrival at W&L, O’Connell served as instructor and assistant football
and assistant lacrosse coach at Friends School (1965-67) and St. Paul’s School (1967-
73), both located in his native Baltimore.
A 1965 graduate of Denison University, O’Connell was inducted into the school’s
athletic hall of fame in 1985 following a stellar playing career with the Big Red. A twotime
lacrosse All-American, he is also a member of the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame and
the Maryland Lacrosse Club Hall of Fame.
Active on the national stage, O’Connell is a member of the Division III Athletics
Administration Association, the National Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and
is the past president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA)
and US Lacrosse Coaches Association.
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