President Kyle retiring at the end of the 2016 academic year

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President Penelope Kyle

Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle and Board of Visitors (BOV) Rector Michael A. Wray announced today that the BOV approved on March 28, 2015 President Kyle's plan to retire as president, effective June 30, 2016. Kyle, who was appointed in 2005 as Radford University's sixth president, is also RU's first female president.

"I am proud to have played a part in the transformation of Radford University since my arrival nearly a decade ago," said President Kyle. "After much deliberation and looking back on the tremendous accomplishments we have achieved together for Radford University and our students, I have given consideration to identifying a good timeframe for transition of the presidency."

"On behalf of the Board, I want to express our deep gratitude for President Kyle's leadership and staunch advocacy of RU," said Wray. "As both a Board member and a father of a Radford University alumna, I have witnessed the results of President Kyle's energy and drive to gain support for RU and help us transform our institution to better serve the needs of our students to succeed in their future careers."

"Much of Radford University's achievements under President Kyle can be directly attributed to her tireless efforts to build upon and improve the University's relationships with the General Assembly and the Commonwealth's elected leaders," said Wray. "Her advocacy has resulted in unprecedented support for Radford University in funding capital construction and renovation projects and introducing new degrees and programs that address the needs of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

With the announcement of President Kyle's retirement at the conclusion of the 2016 academic year, the BOV has begun planning for the presidential search process and the establishment of a search committee. "The Board anticipates a search process that will involve the broader RU community of faculty, staff, students and alumni," said Wray. "Today's announcement ensures ample time to identify the new president and will allow an orderly transition. The Board anticipates providing more details in the near future about the search committee and the search process," Wray added.

Mar 30, 2015
Joe Carpenter, VP for University Relations and Chief Communications Officer
(540) 831-7270
ljcarpenter@radford.edu