The Ithaca College Board of Trustees has announced the unanimous selection of Thomas R. Rochon, Ph.D., as the eighth president in the institution’s 116-year history. Rochon, who has served since 2003 as executive vice president and chief academic officer for the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, will officially begin his duties in Ithaca on July 1. He succeeds Peggy R. Williams, who will be retiring after 11 years as Ithaca’s president.

“Tom brings to Ithaca College exceptional academic and administrative leadership credentials,” says Bill Schwab '67, chair of the board of trustees. “His background in directing and developing large and complex institutions, in the classroom, and as a scholar will serve the College well. We eagerly anticipate working with him in furthering Ithaca College’s mission and goals.”

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Ithaca College’s President’s Associates were treated to a special performance of the Verdi Requiem at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall on April 15 by members of the Ithaca Choral Union, consisting of the Ithaca College Choir (conducted by professor of music performance Lawrence Doebler), Women’s Chorale (conducted by professor of music education Janet Galván), Chorus (also conducted by Janet Galván), and the Symph

At a reception beforehand, President Peggy R. Williams, who will retire June 1, thanked the President’s Associates for supporting the College during the six-and-a-half years of the very successful Campaign for Ithaca College: Making a World of Difference and announced the appointment of Ithaca’s new president, Thomas R. Rochon. Rochon will assume his post as president on July 1.

Other highlights of the event were introductions of Ithaca’s new dean of the School of Music, Greg Woodward, M.M. ’78, and new dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, Leslie Lewis. Woodward and Lewis will succeed Art Ostrander and Howard Erlich, respectively, upon both deans' retirement at the close of the academic year.