Retirement of ACCU President Dr. Richard Yanikoski

August 28, 2009

Presidential Colleagues:

As chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, I write with news of great importance for all of us.  Dr. Richard Yanikoski has informed the Board that he will retire on August 15, 2010, after completing his 5-year contract as ACCU’s President and CEO. The Executive Committee did its best to convince Dick to remain, but he held firm to his plan to retire while he enjoys good health.

After 35 years working in Catholic higher education, Dick will to retire to Southern Indiana, where he and his wife Wendy already are rehabilitating an early 19th-century building near the Ohio River.  Dick’s retirement plans include woodworking, writing, travel, involvement in the local diocese, and daily enjoyment of the more relaxed pace of rural living.

The entire membership of ACCU owes Dick a tremendous debt of gratitude for the superb leadership he has given our organization.  In addition to the many hours he has devoted to advising and supporting both new and seasoned presidents, he has been a most articulate and effective advocate for Catholic Higher Education, representing our association as an ex officio member of the NCEA Board of Directors, fostering good relationships with other educational associations, and, of course, sustaining and improving dialogue with Church leaders, nationally and internationally.  He brought particular strengths to ACCU as a fiscal manager, insuring that the resources of our association are well managed, prudently invested, and wisely directed to support our activities.  Dick has hired a superb team who created programs for our annual meeting that attract ever-increasing participation.

I know that Dick will continue to devote his customary energy to the Association’s affairs during the coming year.  Although he will not be directly involved in the search, he will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about the position.

The Executive Committee of the Board will conduct the search for Dick’s successor.  Linda Bevilacqua, OP, President of Barry University, will chair the search process and communicate with you in the near future regarding the position description and search timetable.  The Board hopes to name Dick’s successor by the time of the annual meeting in late January.

Although this transition is not welcome news, it provides a splendid opportunity for another of our proven leaders to take the Association forward.  The Executive Committee looks forward to receiving nominations (including self-nominations).  In the meantime, I welcome your thoughts about how ACCU can serve you best.  I know that, at the annual meeting, you will join me in thanking Dick for his extraordinary work on our behalf and wish him well as he sets upon his new adventures.

Cordially,

Mary E. Lyons, Ph.D.
Chair, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
President, University of San Diego