University President Bob Mong Announces He Will Retire in July


January 22, 2024

Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ President Bob Mong has announced he will retire in July, 2024, after nine years leading the university. Here is his message to the campus community:

I wanted to inform the Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ community that I will be retiring from the presidency at the end of July, a date that marks nine years in this position. It goes without saying, the experience has been an honor and a privilege of the highest order of public service.

bob mong

I just turned 75, a birthday I feel is a significant milestone. I am very fortunate to have experienced two meaningful careers, one in business and journalism, the other as a university president. Since I was 30 years old, I have held hot seat jobs that required heavy lifting in high stakes situations where the outcomes mattered.

Since my first day at Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ on Aug. 1, 2015, the university’s mission to empower upward economic mobility and be a symbol of hope for communities we serve has inspired me.

In life, there is a time for everything, and this is the right time for me to prepare for a new passage. With that in mind, I have informed Chancellor Michael Williams that I will step out of the presidency at the end of July. I appreciate his partnership during my time here.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­D will be in good hands. The leadership team is strong, experienced and capable. They helped our young, 14-year-old institution reach new heights. Our nine-year-old law school also has never been stronger.

bob mong

The university has numerous active initiatives, and I want to assure our internal and external partners that Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­D’s commitment and support will carry forward after I have left. This always has been a team effort.

I thank our local legislative delegation for its strong and consistent support of Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­D during my presidency.

They understand Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­D’s influence plays an important and unique part in the region’s education ecosystem, and its role will only increase in the years to come. It has been a great honor to lead the school through this period of growth and increased relevance. I know the university will continue to expand and prosper under new leadership once the search for my replacement is completed.

In the meantime, I appreciate each of you and look forward to working with you in the months ahead.

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