Dr. Lance Richey looks at his calendar full of deadlines, meetings and urgency, and doesn’t see a moment’s rest. Downtime? Not on his current planner. Perhaps a free day will eventually arise. The 4th of July, maybe? Such is the life for a man whose job title changed by one word—and by leaps and bounds—when the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration appointed him as the 11th president of the University of Saint Francis. In March, he was named president and will be inaugurated on June 7. Richey had been at the helm as interim president since May 2023, stepping up when Rev. Dr. Eric Albert Zimmer stepped down. Removing “interim” from the title added levels of responsibility and decision-making that are challenging and exhilarating. “Being appointed to the role permanently has been a big change because many decisions that had been on hold now need to be made,” Richey said in mid-April. “It’s been a very busy time over the last few weeks, meeting with people across campus about possible ways to move the university forward. That’s exciting, too. I’m pumped with adrenaline to have everything moving forward to an exciting future.” After serving as vice president for academic affairs, Richey originally planned to return to teaching theology. Asked to serve as interim president, he accepted the role with a servant’s heart. He helped lead the way on several projects, including a daunting budget overhaul aimed at making the most of Saint Francis’ available financial assets. Tough decisions were made with finality shortly after he was appointed president. “I’m excited about the opportunity to serve the university in a way that can better communicate our message and values to the larger world and to drive changes internally that will strengthen those values as the basis for everything we do,” he said. At the top of the agenda is a new strategic plan. The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, along with the Board of Trustees, also reemphasized the goal of championing the university’s Catholic, Franciscan identity. Some might see irony in that task of boosting Catholic identity falling upon the first lay person to serve as university president. The first nine presidents were Sisters; Fr. Zimmer was the first priest to lead Saint Francis. Richey, a devout Catholic, said he believes lay people are called to service in the Church and its areas of influence. “It’s an opportunity to live out the values of the Church,” Richey said. “The Second Vatican Council spoke of the universal call to holiness and the responsibility all members of the church have to carry out its mission. In my capacity, I’m working closely with the Bishop, the Sisters and the board to make sure—whether ordained or lay, religious or secular, Catholic or not Catholic—we’re all working together to help us thrive as a Catholic, Franciscan university. It’s very exciting.” Richey and his wife, Carol, have five children. Four have degrees from Saint Francis, and a fifth is earning a degree. While they are not natives—Lance is from South Carolina and Carol is from Nebraska—they have embraced Saint Francis and, in turn, Fort Wayne, as their home. “I’m meeting lots of new people and I’m always amazed by how respected Saint Francis is in the community and how much people want to be part of the great things we’re doing,” Richey said. “The Board of Trustees has asked us to undertake the strategic planning process and it really opens up a lot of exciting things for us to think about as a community—what our opportunities are and how we go about achieving them.” Long-range goals will take time. They’ll take dedicated work. And, they’ll take up even more space on the president’s calendar. “It’s an opportunity to live out the values of the Church. The Second Vatican Council spoke of the universal call to holiness and the responsibility all members of the church have to carry out its mission. In my capacity, I’m working closely with the Bishop, the Sisters and the board to make sure — whether ordained or lay, religious or secular, Catholic or not Catholic — we’re all working together to help us thrive as a Catholic, Franciscan university. It’s very exciting.” Dr. Lance Richey 11th President of the University of Saint Francis 7 saint francis magazine | spring 2024 Photography by Jeffrey Crane (BA ’97)
