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

Washington washington and leeKEN RUSCIO, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTKen Ruscio officially began his duties asthe University's 26th president in July 2006.Ruscio earned a B.A. in politics from Washingtonand Lee in 1976 and earned an M.P.A.and Ph.D. from Syracuse University's MaxwellSchool of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1978and 1983, respectively.Ruscio served as a professor of politics,associate dean of the Williams School of Commerce,Economics, and Politics, and dean offreshmen at W&L from 1987 until 2002, whenhe became the dean of the Jepson School ofLeadership Studies at the University of Richmond.Ruscio has also taught at Worcester PolytechnicInstitute and Kansas University and wasa postdoctoral research scholar at UCLA. He recently completed his second term asnational president of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership society begun at W&Lin 1914 that now has chapters at over 300 campuses. He has led and served on dozensof academic, professional and civic committees.Ruscio is married to the former Kimberley O'Donnell of New York. They have ason, Matt, age 16.CHUCK O'CONNELL, INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTORChuck O’Connell will serve the 2006-07school year as Interim Director of Athletics atWashington and Lee, becoming just the sixthathletic director in the school’s history.O’Connell arrived at W&L in 1973 as assistantprofessor of physical education, assistantlacrosse and assistant football coach. Hewas named assistant athletic director in 1983,overseeing the department’s finances, facilitiesand operations. In 1991, he became the directorof physical education and in 2002, he waspromoted 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 ODACChampionships in 1981 and 1985, while mentoring16 players to First Team All-Conference honors.As assistant lacrosse coach from 1974-83, O’Connell helped steer the Generalsto 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 footballand 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’sathletic hall of fame in 1985 following a stellar playing career with the Big Red. A twotimelacrosse All-American, he is also a member of the Ohio Lacrosse Hall of Fame andthe Maryland Lacrosse Club Hall of Fame.Active on the national stage, O’Connell is a member of the Division III AthleticsAdministration Association, the National Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) andis the past president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA)and US Lacrosse Coaches Association.16