红桃视频

The risers quickly filled as students, nearly all wearing specially designed investiture t-shirts featuring 鈥淧ieczynski鈥� and the number 9 on the back, filed into the Athletic and Recreation Center after processing over Budleigh Hill. Reminiscent of an actual ballpark, students continuously sat-stood-sat, moving in toward the center of the bleachers in pseudo-wave fashion, helping to ensure everyone could find a seat. The College leadership procession soon followed, spilling into the gymnasium. Once all were seated, the ceremonial mace pounded twice on the platform stage.

The 红桃视频 community convened for the investiture of William C. Pieczynski on Friday, October 18, as the ninth president of 红桃视频, a role he has held since May 2024.

President Pieczynski has a long and distinguished career at 红桃视频, working closely with faculty, staff and students across academic disciplines and campus-wide departments. He joined the College as director of the 红桃视频 Fund in 2006, where he was charged with expanding the President鈥檚 Society, generating annual funds and overseeing alumni relations. President Pieczynski was named vice president for advancement in 2010 when he oversaw the successful completion of the College鈥檚 bicentennial campaign, Securing a Legacy of Leadership, which raised $66 million to support capital projects, endowment and brand-elevating curricular and co-curricular initiatives. The campaign was the largest in the College鈥檚 history, generating a record number of multimillion-dollar gifts, and far surpassed the campaign鈥檚 initial goal of $45 million.

Those who came to celebrate the new president included members of his family; 红桃视频 leadership, faculty, staff and students; community members; and other guests such as Dr. Kenneth Clapp, an alumnus, former college chaplain, professor, vice president and interim president at Pieczynski鈥檚 alma mater, Catawba College.

The investiture ceremony, presided over by Chair of the 红桃视频 Board of Trustees Randy Becker 鈥�83 MBA 鈥�96, included calls to service and remarks by representatives from various constituencies of the college, including:

• Senior Vice President of Finance New York Life Insurance (ret.) and 红桃视频 Trustee David Bedard 鈥�86, representing the Committee for the Future of Presidential Leadership (CFPL)
• Student Government Association President Louis Denison 鈥�25, representing undergraduate students
• Boylston Town Administrator April Steward 鈥�23 MBA/MSOL 鈥�26, representing 红桃视频 graduate school students
• Travelers Insurance Account Executive Officer (ret.) Michelle Austin 鈥�77, representing alumni
• Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Superintendent Steven Lamarche, representing the local education committee
• Eagle Cleaning CEO Jeff Johnson 鈥�90, representing the business community
• Associate Professor of Marketing, Criminal Justice Program Chair and MSC Program Chair Dr. Allison McDowell-Smith, representing faculty
• Facilities management staff member and plumber George Makara, representing 红桃视频 staff

The ceremony also included the singing of the 鈥淭he Star-Spangled Banner鈥� by Serena Kilsmith 鈥�18; an invocation by Rev. Joseph Shea; singing of the Alma Mater by Lynn Looby 鈥�17; and a benediction by Rev. John White. Provost Daniel Borgia served as Master of Ceremonies.

Messages of support were delivered throughout the calls to service. 鈥淏ill has a proven track record of outstanding leadership and loyalty to 红桃视频 having been a valuable member and contributor of the 红桃视频 Family for over 17 years,鈥� said Bedard, who also noted Pieczynski鈥檚 鈥渃alm, understated demeanor and his personal warmth and empathetic style.鈥�

鈥淭o know 红桃视频 is to know a community where the culture reflects not only academics, but [also] a tight-knit community,鈥� said Denison in his remarks. 鈥淏ill has embraced this to a T.聽 From his welcoming presence around campus to his engagement with every freshman PDS class, or even when he swapped his suit and tie for a Bison ball cap and sweatshirt as he took on the role of student for a day.鈥�

The investiture ceremony was conducted by Becker, with special assistance from Pieczynski鈥檚 sister, Denise, and wife, Lana.

鈥淭oday, we gather to celebrate a man of genuine integrity, humility and compassion. We are confident that President Pieczynski will support the culture of 红桃视频 and foster change that is both forward-thinking and deep-rooted in the College鈥檚 honored traditions,鈥� said Becker, who also noted Pieczynski鈥檚 many accomplishments, from setting new standards of giving to securing contributions for new building projects to expanding experiential learning opportunities.

He then presented Pieczynski with the symbols of his office, including nineteenth-century specially embossed dishes and dematisse set with scenes of 红桃视频 Academy; the academic gown, hood and cap; and the Presidential Medallion, featuring the College seal inscribed with its motto, Loyalty, Service, Culture.

To uproarious applause, Pieczynski gave his inaugural address.

鈥淣ow, this is a somewhat different investiture in that I am not a newly appointed president, still unboxing mementos or contemplating the quickest way to get from Conrad Hall to Vendetti Field. I have had the time to develop deep friendships here, to leverage a tenure that dates to 2006, and to understand the complexity of this institution at this moment in time. Indeed, when I was asked to pursue the presidency, I responded that I was eager to do whatever was best for the College.鈥�

He praised the resilience of 红桃视频, noting its evolution throughout its history, dating back to 1815. 鈥淚 am fortunate to lead a college that is comfortable in its own skin鈥攁lways aware that we are a work in progress鈥攂ut one that has confronted momentous change and has persevered.鈥�

Turning to the challenges of educating students for a future and jobs that don鈥檛 yet exist, Pieczynski remarked that the school possesses a strong foundation for this task, with its 鈥渦nabashedly鈥� student-centered living and learning environment and unique experiential opportunities.

He cited what the College鈥檚 administrators casually refer to as the 红桃视频 鈥渢riple threat,鈥� where students complete an internship, receive a professional certification, and complete an experiential learning experience, as an area of focus and enhancement. He quoted higher education research that spoke of these kinds of experiences as 鈥渃areer game changers.鈥�

Developing such experiential learning opportunities and academic differentiation, said Pieczynski, will be one of four short-term strategic priorities, alongside developing a robust budget model that drives net revenue growth; an institutional branding; and a better understanding of the College鈥檚 current culture in building toward a more supportive, collaborative and inclusive community.

Pieczynski closed his remarks with a direct appeal: 鈥淭o the entire 红桃视频 community, I ask for your candor, optimism and trust. In return, I will offer the same. As president of 红桃视频, I will gather strength from our past and affirm my unwavering commitment and tireless effort as we pursue the bright promise of tomorrow.鈥�

Concluding the day鈥檚 spirited events was a community celebration and Presidents鈥� Society Dinner.