Dr. Norman C. Francis announces his retirement as President of Xavier University, effective June 30, 2015

LEGACY OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP


Xavier University of Louisiana President Dr. Norman C. Francis announces his retirement as the longest serving college president in the USA.

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NEW ORLEANS — Dr. Norman C. Francis, the nation’s longest serving university president, today announced that he plans to retire as president of Xavier University of Louisiana, effective June 30, 2015.

"After nearly 47 years, I believe that the time has come to take the brightly burning torch turned over to me by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and pass it on to new leadership," Dr. Francis told a campus wide Convocation of the University community late Thursday morning.

"I did so with the passionate confidence and absolute certainty that Xavier is better prepared than ever to continue its educational and spiritual mission, and to build on its tradition of excellence,"
Dr Francis continued.

Dr. Francis’ has been affiliated with Xavier for most of 66 years, arriving at Xavier from Lafayette as a 17 year old freshman in 1948, and he quickly emerged as a leader. He was elected class president every year of his undergraduate study and student body president in his senior year.

"This morning, my fellow board members and I accepted Dr. Francis’ request to retire as Xavier’s president, effective June 30, 2015," said Michael Rue, Chairman of the Xavier University Board of Trustees. "We all wish Dr. Francis could remain as Xavier’s president for at least 50 more years. We take solace in the realization that Dr. Francis will be forever with us through the institution he helped shape."

Xavier University has been transformed under Dr. Francis’ leadership, enrollment has tripled and the university’s endowment has grown from under $20 million to more than $160 million. A campus of five permanent buildings that could fit on one city block has grown to 16 permanent buildings and manicured green spaces extending out over 63.4 acres

During Dr. Francis’ tenure as president, Xavier has received a constantly increasing volume of national recognition for outstanding academic achievements especially in the sciences and pre-medical areas, rigorous graduation requirements and Xavier’s scholarly athletes, as well as the intellectual and moral quality of the alumni.

"There will likely be many questions about who will be Xavier’s next president. The responsibility for this decision rests with the Board of Trustees. Having only just approved Dr. Francis' request to retire from Xavier by the end of June 2015, our sole focus today and over the next few days is on beginning the celebration of the life and legacy of the quintessential Xavierite: Norman C. Francis," Mr. Rue continued.

COURTESY XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MEDIA RELATIONS