De Rosset Named as Interim Union College President

The Union College Board of Trustees announced this week the appointment of Ed de Rosset as the Interim College President effective June 24. Current President, David Joyce, begins his new presidency at Ripon College in July.

“Ed’s thirty-three years of proven leadership in managing private college operations was a leading factor in our unanimous decision,” said Board Chair-elect Leonard Shetler.

For the past 18 years, de Rosset has served Union in various roles, most recently, as the Assistant to the President, and prior to that, he served as the Dean of Students and Vice-President for Student Life. Before coming to Union, he held leadership positions with the National Business College in Roanoke, Va., and at Berea College.

De Rosset has been very instrumental in helping to facilitate the efforts of Knox Partners, Inc., a local community planning initiative connecting leaders and forming partnerships among county, city, college and community action programs. In the spring of 2000, Union was awarded a grant from the Teagle Foundation for this college and community partnership and planning initiative. Presently, the groups affiliated with Knox Partners, Inc. have approximately $20 million in proposals, projects underway, projects on drawing boards and projects completed.

In a letter to President Joyce, Dan Keith Rays of Mars Hill Institute, evaluator of the Teagle Community Planning Initiative commented on the success of Knox Partners by saying, “In no small way, this can be traced to the management style of Ed de Rosset. You could not have chosen more wisely. His low-key style, yet firm hand, has won the support and praise of all the partners. His ability to keep multiple projects on track, as well as to keep multiple personalities in the loop and play the ‘behind-the-scene’ role that allows other partners to lead, has been absolutely critical to your success to date.”

Upon the announcement of being appointed interim president de Rosset said, “It is my preference that the Union College faculty, staff, students and local community look upon the coming year as a unique and special time for the college, a time to take stock, set its sights and continue to place the college in the best shape possible for a new president in 2004-05. My hope would be that the focus of this year would not be on who is president but on the Union College legacy of being very much of its local community, of its choice to provide quality teaching in a personal context, and of providing dependable access to support services, athletic and social activities and technology/learning resources. And it is the college’s purpose to foster the best of relationships, to be purposely friendly and to be a place where learning and lifetime friendships grow together.”

Local trustee, Jerry Carey added, “With his experience and working knowledge of the college and community, Ed is someone we can count on to continue the successful momentum of the College, run the day to day affairs of the college and keep us on target in building for the future as the trustees lead the search for the next President.”

June 16, 2003

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