CSB/SJU selects Richard Ice as new provost

Richard Ice can take the word "interim" off his title.

Ice was named provost at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University Monday, March 7. CSB President Mary Dana Hinton and SJU President Michael Hemesath announced the appointment in a joint statement to members of the CSB/SJU community.

Ice has served as interim provost since Rita Knuesel retired as provost June 30, 2015. He was one of four candidates interviewed during a national search to replace Knuesel, who had served as chief academic officer at CSB/SJU since 2007.

"Among this competitive group of candidates, Richard clearly demonstrated a deep experience with and commitment to residential liberal arts, thorough understanding of the importance of working across divisions for the benefit of our students and active participation in the national conversation about the future of higher education," the statement from Hinton and Hemesath said.

Ice has been a member of the faculty at CSB and SJU since 1989, serving as a professor in the communication department. He was academic dean from 2011-14, and vice provost in 2014-15.

He has been involved with such academic issues as program review, accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, faculty and staff composition design, improving academic facilities including the Learning Commons at SJU and the renovation of the Main Building at CSB. He also helped steer CSB and SJU to the current five-day class schedule.

"As we press forward with the implementation of Strategic Directions 2020 (SD 2020), we are confident that Richard is the right choice to lead Academic Affairs during this important time in the colleges' history," the statement said. "Richard's keen understanding of how best to navigate the coordinate relationship and how to incorporate that into the bright academic future outlined in SD 2020 was compelling."

"CSB and SJU are special places," Ice said. "I am honored to be selected to serve in this role and I look forward to working with the whole community as we move forward, implementing SD2020 and continuing to be premier liberal arts colleges in the Catholic and Benedictine traditions."

Ice received his bachelor's degree from Wabash College in 1983, a master's from the University of Iowa in 1984 and his doctorate from Iowa in 1988.