Widener recently welcomed Timothy Renick, the founding executive director at the National Institute for Student Success, as the 2026 Beideman Visiting Scholar in conjunction with the university’s Student Success Summit.

Renick delivered the keynote address, “Transforming student outcomes through data and institutional change” in Alumni Auditorium. He gave a data-driven presentation about changes to policies and processes at Georgia State University, which is home to the institute, known as NISS. Since combining data and leadership to transform student outcomes at Georgia State University, NISS has partnered with 150 other colleges and universities – including Widener – to develop customized plans for similar successes.

The NISS partnership with Widener over the 2024-25 academic year led to a “playbook” of process and policy ideas designed to promote student retention, graduation rates and, ultimately, successful career outcomes.  

“Hopefully this can be instructive and inspirational for your purposes,” Renick said at the outset of his remarks, which chronicled changes at Georgia State University.

In addition, as the visiting scholar, Renick and representatives of the institute hosted multiple interactive, hands-on sessions attended by members of the Widener community. The sessions focused on leadership development and evidence-based practices that strengthen student outcomes. Topics included effective use of academic data, consistent and proactive student advising practices, intentional academic pathways for first-year student success, and student financial support.

Renick was named one of the most innovative people in higher education by Washington Monthly, was the recipient of the Award for National Leadership in Student Success Innovation and was awarded the McGraw Prize in Higher Education. In 2021, Fortune named him one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders. He has served as principal investigator for more than $60 million in grants to support the success of college students.

The Beideman Visiting Scholar Program brings world-class speakers and scholars to the Widener campus on an annual basis to stimulate discussions on current and pertinent theories and practices related to leadership development and the effective exercise of leadership. The program is made possible by a generous gift from Widener Board of Trustees Chair Paul Beideman and his wife Caroline Beideman.

“We were delighted to host Dr. Renick on the Chester campus,” said Paul Beideman. “He shared a lot of practical, research-based ideas for student success at Widener. This work really highlights how much it matters for students to feel welcome, supported and like they truly belong here.”

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