BRONSON TO BE HONORED AS MARCH OF DIMES VOLUSIA COUNTY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The March of Dimes will honor its 2003 Volusia County Citizen of the Year, Bethune-Cookman College President Oswald P. Bronson, Sr., PhD, on Wednesday, December 3^rd, at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center. The award recognizes Bronson’s commitment to human values and community service as well as his important contributions to the community that have helped Volusia County become a better place to live, work, and educate future generations of leaders.

A native of Sanford, Fla. and former resident of DeLand, Fla,  Dr. Bronson received his bachelor’s degree from Bethune-Cookman College in 1950.  His graduate studies include a master’s of divinity degree from Gammon Theological Seminary (now known as the Interdenominational Theology Center), Atlanta, Ga. and a doctorate degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill..

An ordained United Methodist minister, Dr. Bronson served from more than 16 years as a pastor in the Florida, Georgia and Rock River, Chicago conferences.

Just prior to assuming the presidency of Bethune-Cookman College in 1975, Bronson served as the  president of Interdenominational Theological Seminary.  He has lectured and taught in numerous mission schools, clinics, pastoral institutes and leadership training seminars. Since becoming B-CC’s president, he has served as president of the Board of Higher Education Black College Fund, Chairman of NAFEO Council of Presidents, President of the United Negro College Fund's (UNCF) President's Council, and as past Vice-Chairman of the UNCF Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Bronson is presently on the Board of Directors of: National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, CAELP, FACU, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change, Volusia County Business Development Corporation, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, Work Oriented Rehabilitation Center Incorporated, Fund for Theological Education, International Society of Theta Phi, Wesley Community Center, and the American Red Cross.

In 2003, Bronson was appointed Chairman of the Council of Chief Executive Officers for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.  He is the recipient of numerous honors for outstanding service including honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, St. Paul’s College , Lawrenceville, Va; Doctor of Laws, Stetson University, DeLand, Florida and has received keys to various cities in the State of Florida.

Labeled a “key power broker for the nation’s black colleges” by Black Issues in Higher Education,  Dr. Bronson’s  leadership and achievements at Bethune-Cookman College have become a benchmark in higher education. Under Dr. Bronson’s leadership since 1975, the College has nearly doubled its enrollment to 2,700, seen its endowment increase from $1.2 million to $25 million, and increase its total operating budget from $6 million to more than $45 million.

Dr. Bronson and his wife, Helen, celebrated their 51st anniversary this year.  They are parents of three children and the grandparents of five.

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.  Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth.

The event honoring Dr. Bronson will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. , with dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m.   Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are still available.  For additional information, contact Kelley Harrell at the March of Dimes at (386) 274-3267.

Bethune-Cookman is a comprehensive college, which offers degrees in liberal arts as well as professional fields, such as business, education and nursing. A United Methodist Church-affiliated school, the college has a diverse and international student population of more than 2,500 and a solid reputation for academic excellence. As evidence of its outstanding program, the College has been listed in the Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and Universities, and it was ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “Top 50” schools in the nation for black students.

For more information, contact our website www.bethune.cookman.edu. 

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