This news release appears courtesy of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
ATLANTA, Dec. 21, 2005 - Dr. Wilsie S. Bishop, vice president for administration and chief operating officer for East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., recently received a James T. Rogers Meritorious Service Award from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) at the association's 110th annual conference held in Atlanta. This is the seventh year the meritorious service and distinguished leadership awards have been given.
"Dr. Bishop was recognized for her valuable service to the Commission on Colleges, and her commitment and dedication to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools," said Belle S. Wheelan, Ph.D., president for the Commission on Colleges, the required accrediting body for more than 780 colleges and universities in the 11 Southeastern states.
"Dr. Bishop truly exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism that is so crucial to the success of the commission's work. We are indebted to Dr. Bishop for her dedication, commitment and unqualified support," Dr. Wheelan added.
Bishop received the award based on quality and length of service to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition to serving as a visiting committee chair for the Commission on Colleges since 1995, she also has served as a member of the organization's task force on compliance for accreditation review and as a member of the review committee for development of the Resource Manual.
Prior to her current position with East Tennessee State University, Bishop worked with the university in several other roles, including serving as a dean and professor for the College of Public and Allied Health, associate vice president for health affairs and associate professor, assistant vice president of academic affairs, and acting chairperson for the department of Baccalaureate Degree nursing.
A tenured professor with East Tennessee State University since 1983, Bishop currently serves in a graduate faculty appointment. She also has served in adjunct faculty appointments in the university's department of Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the department of Professional Roles/Mental Health Nursing in the College of Nursing. Prior to that, she was an associate instructor in the Department of Nursing with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. She has served as a clinical and staff nurse with several medical facilities.
Bishop served the Tennessee Women's Economic Council in many significant roles, including her contributions through her appointment by Tennessee Gov. Don Sundquist to represent the Tennessee Board of Regents. Also, she was appointed by Mayor Ruth Montgomery to serve on the Gateway Planning Commission for the City of Kingsport, Tenn.
She has served on the Sullivan Co. Health Council, Girls Inc. of Kingsport, Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Health Services Task Force, Appalachian Health Care Conferences steering committee, Tri-City Airport Area Rotary Club, Appalachian Girl Scouts Council and Appalachian Chapter of the National Foundation of the March of Dimes.
Bishop is a member of the Society for Colleges and University Planning, the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, Social Analytic Learning Society, the American Association for Higher Education and the Southern Association of Allied Health Deans at Academic Health Centers, where she has served as chair from 2003 to 2005. She has been a member of the Tennessee Educational Council for Health Sciences Professions and the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions.
She has received a host of awards, including most recently the 2004 Woman Who Makes a Difference award from the Girl Scouts of the Appalachian Council, and she was named Notable Woman of East Tennessee State University in 2003. Also, she is listed in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in American Education and Who's Who in America for 2005.
Located in Decatur, Ga., the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the recognized regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia -- and in Latin America for those institutions of higher education that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process. For more information about the association, visit www.sacscoc.org. | 
