Meet President James Cousins: Launching a New Era at Wilkes University

Meet President James Cousins: Launching a New Era at Wilkes University

As a science fiction fan, James Cousins is well-versed in the concept of an alternate timeline - a version of reality where one event or choice has radically changed the future. In another version of his story, Cousins might have decided on a career in urban planning. "I would be a property developer, I think, because of the opportunities to transform towns and cities, and to make communities better."

Instead, Cousins chose to transform the lives of students. In this reality, he serves as the president of Wilkes University. Following an early enthusiasm for history to the classroom, a PhD and a career in higher education, he has committed to making the Wilkes community the best it can be.

Cousins was born in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles northwest of Philadelphia. His home wasn't far from Valley Forge, a site famous for its role during the Revolutionary War. Cousins often visited the area with his mother after school, climbing on cannons and mapping battlefields. That encounter with backyard history expanded to an interest in American history, world history and ancient history, with his curiosity about the past brought to life in the classroom by talented educators.

"I benefited from some really exceptional history teachers in elementary, middle and high school. Really, one after the other, they were just terrific in terms of how they presented the past," says Cousins. "It was more compelling than names and dates. They asked really important questions, relevant questions, and it sparked more of an interest as I grew."

As a student at The Ohio State University, Cousins explored history along with a variety of other interests. "When I went to college, I wanted to do a lot of things," he says. "I was one of those students who took way too many course credits." With a collection of classes in public speaking, organizational behavior and journalism, following a heart-to-heart talk with his father, Cousins chose a major in communications.

Still, his penchant for the past was never far away. He taught history and Latin at the middle and high school level and was named Teacher of the Year. Then he decided to support his interest with academic credentials. "I went back for my master's degree in history, and I loved that so much, I thought, 'Oh, I need a PhD now,'" says Cousins.

Cousins earned his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Kentucky, specializing in the Early American Republic and focusing on the history of higher education.

"I love American history. I love intellectual history. And, the history of the early Republic, in so many ways, is shaped by institutions," says Cousins. "I'm of the opinion that higher education was one of the most critical institutions in the formation of the American Republic."

Cousins shared his expertise in the classroom, impacting students from their first-year experience through senior seminar. He rose from tenure track to tenured professor at Western Michigan University, teaching courses in American history, public history, historiography and research seminars.

As a dedicated scholar, Cousins doesn't contain his enthusiasm for history to the classroom. He has an extensive list of peer-reviewed articles, essays and presentations to his credit, as well as two published books: Collaborating for the Future of Education: Creating the Space to Think and Teach Historically and Horace Holley: Transylvania University and the Making of Liberal Education in the Early American Republic. A third book on the history of higher education in the early 19th century is in progress.

Cousins' commitment to higher education led from the classroom to the administrative offices and a position as associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences at WMU. Cousins then moved to Kentucky Wesleyan University where he served as provost and vice president of academic affairs before leading the institution as its president.

Though he was not looking for a change, when Wilkes began the search for its eighth president, Cousins was nominated for the job. Like a true historian, he delved into research. The University's small size, coupled with its depth of programs, made the position attractive, but from his first face-to-face meetings, the warm welcome was the deciding force.

"Obviously, on paper, everything lined up," says Cousins. "But it's the people that made the difference. The culture of the campus was so positive and optimistic."

Cousins was announced as the University's eighth president in June. He, his wife, Carrie, and their son, JP, moved to campus in mid-July, and he began his tenure on Aug. 1.

While the fall semester started Aug. 31, for Cousins, school has been in session since he started the interview process. "I read as much as I could before I got to campus, and on campus, it's been a continual education, learning from the students and the faculty and staff - things that they are optimistic about, things that have them concerned and their vision for campus," says Cousins.

In his first months on campus, Cousins has been meeting with - and listening to -members of the campus community, as well as friends and supporters in the surrounding area.

"I am hearing that there is a singular vision here. There's not just the James Cousins vision, but there's a vision that everyone is really pointing towards, which is a financially healthy institution that's focused on preparing the next generation of professionals and leaders in northeastern Pennsylvania," he says.

Part of this vision means ensuring that Wilkes continues to thrive by serving our students and the wider community, from small, local employers to multi-national companies that hire alumni post-graduation. While Cousins serves as the driving force of the mission now, the historian in him has found that Wilkes has a track record of meeting the moment, from its earliest days as Bucknell University Junior College through the years as a liberal arts college to its growth into a university offering graduate and professional programs.

"Institutions thrive when they meet and are slightly ahead of the curve when it comes to what the community needs, but they have to grow with their communities. They have to be slightly ahead so that the community is in the best place possible to be successful, and Wilkes has done this throughout its history," says Cousins. "I think that's how it best positions itself going forward. That means really listening to what our students are saying, what the market and industry trends are telling us and where the workforce demands are."

For Cousins, this era will be about a focus on the University's liberal arts foundation and commitment to leadership, while preparing for new professional and graduate programs to take Wilkes to the next level.

"I think this will be a period of reinvestment in Wilkes, in the people, technologies and infrastructure," says Cousins. "My goal in the next three to five years is to lean into those ambitions and prepare us for that next step. That's going to take an entire campus community, hearing and learning from everyone. That's an ongoing process."

As the president continues his campus-wide listening tour, the biggest challenge is time. "I want everybody to know that I'm here and paying attention, but there are only so many hours in the week," says Cousins. However, he won't let that stand in his way, vowing to gather perspectives from all those willing to share.

With the time crunch, Cousins hasn't had much time to explore northeastern Pennsylvania or hit the golf course with his son, though he looks forward to both. Still, his passion for education won't allow him to stay away from the head of the class for long. In the spring, he's slated to teach HST 332 The New Nation. So even when he takes a moment to watch the Philadelphia Phillies on TV, he's working on the syllabus. "I want it to be a great class," says Cousins. "I'm excited about it," adding "Hopefully it makes!"

Leaving science fiction and time travel to Robert A. Heinlein, his favorite sci-fi author, Cousins isn't jumping ahead to the spring semester just yet. He's happy to experience his first fall at Wilkes and all the sports, performing arts, gallery shows and club activities that come along with it.

"Every campus has its own unique culture and celebrations, and you have to lean into that," says Cousins. "The things I'm most excited about are the things that you really can't anticipate and the newness of those experiences."

Next up on the list of new Wilkes experiences is his first Homecoming Weekend as president. Cousins looks forward to welcoming alumni back to revel in their history at Wilkes and launch the next successful era of this place Colonels call home.

"There's no better way for me to learn about the impact Wilkes has on our students than through the experience of our graduates," says Cousins. "I've quickly learned how much Wilkes alumni contribute to the life of our University - mentorship, support, pride - and Homecoming gives us the chance to celebrate together."