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Achatz Center on campus. It's a modern architecture building set among trees. Students are walking around the building on the paths.

President's Office

Interim President Dr. Lance Richey

Dr. Lance Richey serves as Interim President of the University of Saint Francis. The founding Congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, working closely with the USF Board of Trustees, appointed him to guide the University as it searches for a successor to Rev. Dr. Eric Albert Zimmer, who guided USF from July 2020 to March 2023.

Dr. Richey holds the rank of Professor of Theology and has served USF in several capacities during 12 years of service to the University, most recently as the Vice President for Academic Affairs since April 2018. Prior to that, Dr. Richey served more than four years as Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He also previously served as Director of the John Duns Scotus Honors Program.

Among Dr. Richey’s accomplishments as Vice President for Academic Affairs:

  • Led Academic Affairs through a transition to all-online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic and the safe reopening of campus, while providing increased academic support and other resources for student success during the public health crisis.
  • Established the Center for Integrated Public Health Education and Research (CIPHER) to increase the university’s leadership in regional public health efforts.
  • Created new Division of Student Academic Support, merging Academic and Career Development Center, TRiO and Library to strengthen retention and persistence efforts.
  • Created and implemented ongoing, faculty-driven four-year Academic Program Review process to ensure continual quality improvement in all programs.
  • Implemented Professional Advising program for first-year students and oversaw revision of academic advising model across university.
  • Oversaw creation of multiple new degree programs and transition to new delivery modalities to expand enrollment and geographic reach of Health Sciences programming.

Dr. Richey holds doctorates in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has published widely in both disciplines. He also holds a Certificate of Pre-Theological Studies from Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri, and a B.A. in History from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Prior to joining USF, Dr. Richey taught at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Conception Seminary College; and Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts.