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Dr. Lance Richey will complete three years as 51���� president on June 30, leaving a legacy of forward momentum for the campus.

Richey shared his thoughts on his impending departure in a recent 51���� magazine message to alumni and friends:

“With the help of God, and thanks to a wonderful leadership team and an inspired strategic plan, over the past three years the university has made dramatic progress, including:

• A new mission statement that reinforces our Catholic, Franciscan identity
• The addition of new workforce development programming
• A new academic structure to support students’ goals
• Site expansion to three new locations in Indiana
• Substantial enrollment growth
• Greater financial health
• Record fundraising for the university

“I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished over the past several years, and even more excited about the great things God has in store for our university in the years to come!”

The expansion Richey referenced includes sites in Gas City, Lafayette and Indianapolis while the academic structure of “Pathways” is designed to help students understand their paths to academic and career success more clearly. The workforce development programming addition came via the acquisition of Leffler Academy.

Richey intends to continue writing during his sabbatical. His recent book, ““Champagne Times: Lawrence Welk and His American Century,” published by NDSU Press, was named as the winner of the Biography: Historical category by the Independent Press Award, one of the most prestigious book award programs globally for independent authors, publishers and illustrators.

Richey said he looks forward to his eventual return to the classroom.

“At heart, I am a scholar and teacher, and there are still books to be written, students to be taught, and new intellectual adventures to be lived—and I want to do all those things,” he said in an assembly address to faculty and staff last month. “I also have long dreamed of having more time to spend with my wife, Carol, who has sacrificed—I like to think it was a sacrifice, at least—a great deal of my time and energy to my jobs over the past dozen years.”

“Serving as President of the 51���� has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life, and I am eternally grateful to the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration for offering me this opportunity to serve the university as its leader.”

Richey emphasized his appreciation extends to the board of trustees and its chair, Richard Poinsatte, as well as the leadership team, faculty and staff. After embarking on a one-year sabbatical, Richey intends to return as a theology professor in fall 2027, assuming the honorary title of president emeritus.

Sister Maria Gemma Salyer, OSF, will assume the role of president on July 1, as appointed by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration.