The St. Louis Business Journal has named James E. McLeod, vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, one of St. Louis’ Most Influential Minority Business Leaders for 2007.
He, along with the 24 other winners, will be profiled in tomorrow’s Business Journal and recognized at an awards luncheon later in the day in the Chase Park Plaza’s Khorassan Ballroom.
The winners were selected based on their career achievements and community involvement.
Since being named dean in 1992 of Washington University’s largest undergraduate school and then vice chancellor for students in 1995, McLeod has conceived and shepherded many great advances here.
Some of the most successful undergraduate efforts in the past two decades in which McLeod has played a major role include developing a residential college approach to dormitory living; strengthening the undergraduate advising system; constructing new small-group housing; advising the new undergraduate curriculum effort in Arts & Sciences; enhancing career planning and placement services; enriching the mix of seminar experiences for freshmen; establishing and building the John B. Ervin Scholars Program for talented students; and helping initiate and shape the expanded study-abroad program.
“I’ve always thought of Jim as a genius. I’m delighted that the St. Louis Business Journal, by selecting Jim for this honor, is letting others know about the great treasure we have in him,” said Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor, dean of Arts & Sciences and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences.
“He has done so much to enhance this institution for our students,” Macias said. “He has a way of working with people to get hard work done while keeping everyone feeling good about the results.”
McLeod, who joined the University in 1974 as an assistant professor of German, has held various administrative positions: assistant dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from 1974-77; assistant to Chancellor William H. Danforth from 1977-1987; and director of the African and Afro-American Studies Program (now known as African & African American Studies) from 1987 until 1992, when he was appointed dean.