By Ripon Media in College Days on September 23, 2021
President Messitte to Leave Ripon
After over nine years President Zach Messitte announces departure from college
By Deana Johnson
Ripon College’s 13th president, Zach Messitte, announced Wednesday, Sept. 22 that the fall 2021 semester will be his last semester at Ripon College.
In an email sent to students, Messitte shared that he will be “returning to my hometown of Washington, D.C., to pursue a new career opportunity and live closer to my family and friends.”
He did not specify what that career opportunity would be.
In the email, Messitte reflected on his time as president of the college by paying tribute and thanks to both current and former members of the Board of Trustees as well as administrators.
After expressing gratitude for those he has worked alongside, Messitte went on to acknowledge the achievements and expansions the college has seen within the last decade.
“Any successes that we have had in persevering through COVID this past year and a half has been a team effort, and there are heroes among our staff and faculty that I cannot thank enough,” he said.
Following Messitte’s email came a message to students from the chair of the Board of Trustees, Tom Abendroth, in which he thanked Messitte for his service and leadership to Ripon College, as well as expressed how the Board of Trustees plans to select Ripon’s 14th President.
Abendroth explained that the Board of Trustees “expect to decide upon an interim President in the next several days. At our upcoming Board meeting Oct. 1-2, the Board will discuss a specific timeline for the selection of Ripon’s 14th president.”
He went on to mention that when selecting Ripon’s next president, the Board of Trustees will have a “committee made up of faculty, staff, students, trustees, administrators and a representative of the community to help us find the best candidate.”
Stay tuned to the College Days Newspaper for updates as the story progresses.
