Inauguration Presenters

IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Rev. Kenneth V. Daniel

Since 2011, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Daniel, MPA, NHA, has been president and CEO of United Church Homes (UCH), a national nonprofit sponsor of residential, long term, and rehab services for older adults and the disabled. Founded by the United Church of Christ in 1916, UCH has over 4000 residents and 1400 employees in 15 states and 2 tribal nations in Nebraska and Minnesota. Dr. Daniel earned a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a Master in Pastoral Counseling from Moravian Seminary, and a Master of Public Administration from Marywood University.  He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Heidelberg University. Dr. Daniel is a trustee and past interim president of the Lancaster Theological Seminary. Dr. Daniel is married to the Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel, Senior Pastor of Evangelical Reformed UCC in Frederick, Maryland.

Rich Sidwell

Birthright member of Middleton Ohio Friends Meeting (Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends, Conservative).  Head of School, Olney Friends School (2003-2011); Business Manager, Olney Friends School (1999-2003); Self-employed co-owner of Sidwell Division, Raven Rocks Concrete, Beallsville OH (1975-1999). Co-Founder and Treasurer of Raven Rocks, Inc. a 1250-acre wilderness preserve and alternative energy demonstration center near Beallsville, OH (1970-Present).  Founding and current President of the Barnesville Area Rails to Trails Committee; Past President and member of the Barnesville Rotary Club. Other board service: Ohio Association of Independent Schools; Friends Council on Education; Barnesville Blue Ribbon Economic Development Committee; and current Executive Director of Captina Conservancy Land Trust. 1968 B.A. (History and Secondary Education) graduate of Wilmington College; While at Wilmington was a Work-Study participant (Randall Auto parts), Soccer player, residence Hall counselor, and scholarship recipient.

Corey Cockerill

Dr. Corey Cockerill is a professor of agriculture and communication at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio. She received her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 2006 in the areas of environmental sociology and communication, and prior to her academic appointment, served as the electronic communications manager at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Her research focuses on natural resource management and conservation policy, and her work has been featured in several recent book publications including Global Degradation of Soil and Water Resources in 2022 and Introducing Global Issues in 2016 and 2021. Dr. Cockerill served for 6 years on the board at Energize Clinton County, a nationally recognized and award-winning community development organization, and has held memberships with the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA), the Soil and Water Conservation Society, the Association for Conservation Information, the International Association of Business Communicators, and the Outdoor Writers of Ohio. She is the recipient of the 2012-13 Student Government Association award for teaching excellence, the 2013 OHIO Magazine Excellence in Education Award, and the 2021 SOCHE Faculty Excellence Award. She resides on a farm in Leesburg, Ohio with her husband and two children.

Chip Murdock

Entering his 23rd year at Wilmington College, Chip serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Service and Civic Engagement. Diversity and Service were in his DNA from a young age. Being the son of an anthropologist, Chip learned to appreciate the various aspects of human differences and has been able to apply those principles throughout his life.

In his roles here at WC, Chip facilitates a wide array of programs for both the Office Diversity and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement, aimed at benefitting the entire campus. The focus of many of these programs promote service, dialogue and understanding. Chip holds a BA from Oral Roberts University in Music Composition and Business and received his post graduate education from both Miami University (MM Music Theory) and Tennessee State University.