SU Establishes an Endowed Professorship To Honor the Long-Term Service of Charlotte and Verne Collins

Shenandoah University announced the creation of the Charlotte A. and Verne E. Collins Endowed Professorship during its annual Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre opening night gala on June 10. The Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre gala was held from in the Brandt Student Center Ferrari Room prior to the opening night performance of “Hairspray” in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre. The endowed professorship was made possible through the generosity of James R. Wilkins Jr. and the James R. Wilkins Charitable Trust and by the action of the board of trustees.

Charlotte and Verne Collins joined the faculty of Shenandoah University in 1958 when it was then Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Dayton, Va. In the early years, Dr. Verne Collins, a trombonist, taught music and directed the band and brass ensemble while Dr. Charlotte Collins, a pianist, taught music education. Together, the couple has contributed more than 90 years of service to the institution. Charlotte, who remains on the faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory, completed 50 years of service in 2009. Verne served as dean of Shenandoah Conservatory from 1965 to 1972, and Charlotte served as dean from 1972 to 2006. Together, they’ve touched the lives of and witnessed more than 3,000 conservatory students earn their degrees.

The endowed professorship honors Professor of Music Charlotte Collins and Professor Emeritus Verne Collins for their distinguished service to the institution. The fund is permanently restricted. The fund will be managed as part of the overall endowment of the institution. The spending return, as determined by the board of trustees, will provide support to a deserving faculty member. The senior vice president and vice president for academic affairs will select or recommend the endowed chair faculty recipient to the president.

Any individual or organization may add to this fund at any time through direct gifts, properties, securities, trusts or bequests in order to enhance the number and size of the awards being made. 

The board of trustees expressed its sincere appreciation to James R. Wilkins Jr., his sister Donna Wilkins Downing and his son James R. Wilkins III for their continued support of, and interest in, Shenandoah University.

Dr. Charlotte Collins completed her 50^th year at Shenandoah University, serving as dean of Shenandoah Conservatory for more than half of her career, from 1972 to 2006. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University, an MBA from Shenandoah University, and Master of Music and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of Michigan. Dr. Collins joined the faculty in 1958 and taught theory, piano and music education. In 1960, the conservatory offered three programs in Winchester: music education, performance and church music. Collins became chairman of the music education and theory divisions in 1965. Other programs then came at a brisk pace after she was named dean of the conservatory: music therapy, composition, piano pedagogy, piano accompanying and jazz studies. The Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy was also established while she was dean as was Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. In her role as dean, she saw changes on the horizon and planned for them. Programs such as music therapy and developed out of society’s needs. She has been honored with numerous awards including the Wilkins Award, Distinguished M.B.A. Alumni Award, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, International Appreciation Award and President’s Medal – all from Shenandoah University; the Winchester-Frederick Chamber of Commerce Service Award; the James Madison University Greater Madisonian Award; the Virginia Music Educators Association Teacher of the Year Award and the United States Air Force Airmen of Note Recognition. Collins continues to provide leadership with her participation in the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). She was elected to a three-year term as chair of the Commission on Accreditation of the NASM during its 2007 annual meeting held in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Verne Collins’s service to Shenandoah spans 40 years (1958 to 2000), taking time off from 1963 to 1965 to complete his Doctor of Education degree at the University of Michigan. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University, a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and an MBA from Shenandoah University. After finishing his doctoral degree, Verne returned to Shenandoah as dean of the conservatory, a position he held from 1965 to 1972. In 1971, he assumed the deanship of both the conservatory and the college, which was a junior college at the time. His was commissioned to move the college to a four-year institution and combine the two independent institutions -- which he did. In the 1970s, he also helped establish the business school and later the MBA program. When former Shenandoah President Robert Parker underwent heart surgery in 1980, Dr. Collins served as acting president. During his Shenandoah career, he also served as dean of the Graduate School, director of continuing education, professor of education, dean of the school of business, director of development, acting vice president for university relations, professor of business, and acting dean of the school of business. In the 1990s, as director of development, he very successfully raised funds in the Development Office and took over the arts management program.