Union College President Announces Early Retirement
Union College President Edward D. de Rosset announced he will retire 18 months ahead of schedule in a move that will help the college secure permanent leadership by summer.
De Rosset, who announced in the spring he would retire June 30, 2013, is now scheduled to retire Dec. 31, 2011.
He chose the original retirement date to align with the anticipated conclusion of a selection process for choosing his successor. However, as announced following the Oct. 26-28 board of trustees meetings, the search is moving more rapidly than expected. Union's 18th president should be named this summer.
In the meantime, Dr. Thomas J. McFarland will remain acting president, an appointment the board of trustees made on Aug. 8 following de Rosset's decision to take a personal leave of absence.
Joining Union's staff 26 years ago "was among the best decisions of a lifetime," de Rosset wrote in a statement issued to the campus community Monday afternoon.
"These years on the Union campus and in the town have been the run and treasure of a lifetime," he wrote. "This community long ago became my adoptive hometown."
The official presidential search began this week with meetings among faculty, staff, students, trustees and local community. This task has been met with reflection and appreciation for the positive leadership de Rosset provided the college.
"During his tenure, the college has increased its student body, while continually raising the academic standards, successfully achieving various reaccreditations and maintaining its strong commitment to serving the students of this region," said board Chairman Paul F. Isaacs in a written statement.
According to Isaacs, notable accomplishments under de Rosset's leadership include the renovation of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Gymnasium; a comprehensive energy conservation initiative, including geothermal heating and cooling systems; the launching of a new school of nursing; formation of partnerships resulting in construction of a community aquatics and wellness center; and funding for renovation of the abandoned former Knox County Hospital and the Miller Science Center.
Additionally, noted Isaacs, de Rosset's leadership facilitated the creation of the new Strategic Plan 2020 for Union College, which establishes ambitious goals for Union's future.
De Rosset began his presidency in 2003, when the board asked him to serve as president in an interim capacity, a role he served until Sept. 30, 2005, when he was inaugurated as Union's 17th president.
His Union College career began after a visit to campus in 1985, when he accepted a position on staff as dean of students. He completed a 14-year stint working in student life and later served as assistant to the president before taking on those responsibilities himself.
"I had the opportunity to learn from three past presidents and several legacy leaders during my time here and I'm indebted to each of them," de Rosset wrote.
"Dr. McFarland, students, staff, faculty and board of trustees have all been part of creating this special sense of place and will continue to strengthen and shape the future for Union and its rich tradition of service to higher education, the Kentucky mountains, and talented students from all regions of the earth."
Founded in 1879, Union College in Barbourville is a liberal arts institution related to the United Methodist Church.
