Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2003
Richard Warch, president of Lawrence University since 1979, will retire in June 2004, at which time he will have completed 25 years in office. He announced his intention to retire to the Board of Trustees at its October meeting, and Board Chair Jeffrey D. Riester, '70, informed the Lawrence Community immediately thereafter.
"The trustees will soon embark upon a search for a successor and develop plans for a smooth and effective transition to new leadership after the 2003-04 academic year," Riester said.
Speaking to the faculty soon after his announcement, President Warch assured them that he had "no intention of behaving like a lame duck" during the remainder of this academic year or in 2003-04.
"I do not intend to get on some glide path to 2004. I will continue to do my best for Lawrence, and I pledge to devote consistent attention to resolving — or at least putting us on the path to resolving — many of our challenges."
Noting that some 40 percent of living Lawrence alumni attended during the years he has been here, Warch continued: "Lawrence offered me this opportunity when I was 39 years old and gave me a set of challenges, opportunities, and rewards that were beyond my ken back then. I have, as I predicted, earned my white hair over the years, but serving Lawrence has been — and will be until I leave — a marvelous experience and an unparalleled privilege, and I'm grateful."
An article by Jeffrey Riester, examining the role of trustees in institutional governance and introducing the Board's plans for the presidential search process, can be found here.
