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Interviewer
Rebecca Masters
Files
Download Interview (44.2 MB)
Abstract
This interview was conducted for the as part of the Winthrop History Project spearheaded by Winthrop President Emeritus Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio and Rebecca Masters to “document the 24-year path of the original Winthrop College to becoming Winthrop University.” This effort was to produce a history of the institution and Dr. DiGiorgio’s tenure as president as a supplement to Dr. Ross Webb’s history of Winthrop (The Torch is Passed) that covered Winthrop history up to Dr. DiGiorgio becoming president. A key aspect of the project was a series of audio-taped interviews conducted with various members of the extended Winthrop community who participated in or helped guide the advancement of Winthrop over these years. That way, the Winthrop story will be told in an array of participants’ own words, own voices and from their own perspectives.
This interview is with former Winthrop president, Dr. Anthony Joseph DiGiorgio. Dr. DiGiorio (1940-2020) served as Winthrop’s ninth president for 24 years from 1989 through 2017. In this interview former President DiGiorgio discusses the later years of his tenure and his vision of Winthrop’s future.
In his more than two decades as Winthrop president, Dr. DiGiorgio led the college's conversion to Winthrop University and its commitment to individual academic program accreditation. Upon Anthony DiGiorgio's retirement from the presidency, the Board of Trustees conferred the titles of President Emeritus. Dr. DiGiorgio began his presidency at Winthrop after serving the College of New Jersey for 19 years in a variety of faculty and administrative positions, including vice president for academic affairs.
In addition to receiving numerous national accolades for overall institutional excellence, Winthrop, under DiGiorgio's leadership, achieved recognition for its dedication to "Education by Design," a concept that intertwines the planning, design, and expansion of campus facilities with the nature and character of Winthrop's learning community.
In addition to extensive adaptive re-use and renovation of Winthrop’s many historic buildings and spaces, new facilities added to the campus and its environs through this initiative have added immeasurably to the quality of life for all in the campus community. The new facilities include the Courtyard at Winthrop; the Lois Rhame West Health, Physical Education and Wellness Center; Leitner Wall; Winthrop Ballpark, Softball Complex, Memorial Tennis Courts, and Belk Track; Culp Chiller Plant, Owens Hall; Carroll Hall; Scholars Walk; Hardin Family Gardens; the Campus Center, itself, and almost 15 acres of land ensuring the university's westward growth path for years to come.
Publication Date
8-17-2016
Unique Identifier
OH 594
Format
MP3;
Length
00:48:19
Restrictions
This interview is open for use.
Series
Anthony DiGiorgio
Disciplines
Law
Recommended Citation
DiGiorgio, Anthony Joseph, "Interview with Anthony Jospeh DiGiorgio - OH 594" (2016). Winthrop University Oral History Program. OH 594.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/oralhistoryprogram/725
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