September 9, 2024
Dear Lycoming Community:
Earlier today, Board Chair Mark Fultz sent a message communicating my decision to retire from the Presidency of Lycoming College effective June 30, 2025. I have been pondering the timing of my retirement for several years now and had previously extended my service at the request of the leadership of the Board of Trustees. I am now confident that the end of this academic year is the right time for Sharon and me personally, and for the College.
As I have said on other occasions, Sharon and I are deeply grateful for the honor of leading Lycoming College since July 1, 2013. The years since then have been the most meaningful of our professional and personal lives, and we genuinely view them as a great gift. Even as we move on, however, we will treasure our fond memories and lasting relationships. We will also continue to be passionate about the life-changing work that is the mission of this great college.
In my inaugural address, I echoed the words of the College’s tenth President, D. Frederic Wertz, and invited the Lycoming community to “Dare to Dream.” During the Campaign for a Greater Lycoming, we challenged ourselves to “Dare to Do.” You, the trustees, alumni, students, faculty and staff have responded with great ideas and remarkable energy over the past eleven years. Many supporters and friends from the City of Williamsport and Lycoming County have been invaluable partners in executing our strategic objectives. Together we have transformed our institution into one of the very best national liberal colleges that lives up to the words: “We Change Lives.” I am grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey.
As you all know, American higher education is undergoing a disruption of historical significance. You should be confident, however, that Lycoming College is positioned to thrive in the future. We have recruited a very diverse student body that draws from talent pools around the country and the world and that looks like the population that will be attending college in the future. The faculty has been engaged in continuous curricular innovation adding new academic programs and revising many pre-existing ones. When combined with the Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences, we have built a model 21st century liberal arts curriculum. College life has also changed in exciting ways with the creation of the program in Outdoor Leadership and Education and the addition of a multiplicity of clubs, signature programs and events that celebrate the diversity of our student body. Our physical campus has been modernized with the addition of the Krapf Gateway Center, the Lynn Science Center, the Keiper Stadium and the Trachte Music Center as well as renovations of classrooms, residence halls, science labs and athletic facilities.
During my remaining time in office, I am committed to advancing four critical priorities: (1) continuing our progress toward becoming a campus that reflects the principles of inclusive excellence, (2) supporting the current curricular innovation being led by the New Academic Programs Working Group and Provost Kingery, (3) laying the groundwork for the next phase of Old City Revitalization, and (4) leaving the institution in a position of fiscal stability.
I will also do everything in my power to support the search for the College’s next president and ensure a smooth transition for my successor.
With warm regards,
President Trachte